Stress tip three: Budget

Stress busting tips: Manage your finances

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Most of us are feeling the credit crunch at the moment and in a study done by the Stress Management Society, money worries came out on top for things stressing out mums around the country.

So what can you do about it? Well, the best thing you can do is to make sure that you know what's going on with your finances at all times. It might sound boring but by drawing up a monthly budget you'll avoid those nasty surprises that'll send your stress levels through the roof. A good budget planner can be found at moneysavingexpert.com.

A lot of people still don't trust internet banking but if you haven't already, it could be worth signing up. Just being able to pop in and out of your statement can really help you keep track of what's going on and stop you from getting a nasty shock when you receive that statement at the end of the month.

Charles Linden, stress and anxiety expert says: 'Finances are one of biggest triggers of stress. Money management isn't so difficult as long as you keep detailed accounts of your income and expenditure. It's so simple to ignore bank statements and spend 'til it's gone, but it isn't sensible if you're trying to manage you stress levels.

Take just one hour each week to sit down with your bank statements and monitor your funds. Structure and planning are all that are required to minimise money related stress.

By Charlotte Gunn