You’re maxing out your budget and your credit usage keeps increasing.
Your hours are suddenly cut and money gets even tighter.
Or your friends' spending power keeps increasing, while yours stays stagnant.
Verywell Mind / Getty Images
Hanging out with friends is no longer fun or relaxing, but a point of stress and contention.
You feel like the odd man or woman outand you dont know what to do about it.
Monica Vermani, a clinical psychologist at Balanced Wellbeing.
But finances don’t have to come in the way of your friendships.
There are ways to maintain, strengthen, and deepenplatonic connections, even without your wallet.
Whatever the case, havingfinancial difficultiescan have consequences on your social relationships.
Buying a $5 latte or a $25 dinner can become more than your budget can handle.
When everyone is at happy hour after work, you’re making up excuses to join them.
Embarrassment, anxiety, and a host of other emotions can develop.
Some may withdraw from their social circle due to feelings of inadequacy or intense shame.
Other people may feel a sense of jealousy or envy about the person with more financial capacity.
All of this can cause the dynamics of friendship to change over timefor better or worse.
When financial dynamics change, both parties can feel an uncomfortable shift in the friendship, says Dr. Vermani.
Or being open to accepting your friends generosity if they offer to pay for dinners or events.
It could also mean accepting your friends help in other ways.
Navigating the friendship may also mean findingactivities that dont break the bank.
There are plenty of ways you could avoid the stress of spending while also enjoying your friend’s company.
Credit counselors can help you figure out how to consolidate debt and begin to live within your means.
Bread Financial.From Friends to Foes: Money Ruins 1 in 5 Relationships.
Published June 16, 2021.
