Handling money matters is intimidating for a lot of people. If you've suffered an unexpected loss such as the death of a spouse or the loss of a job, you may be overwhelmed and fearful at the thought of facing your finances. That's understandable. You don't want to accept what has just happened and you're not really even sure what it all means for your family and your future. Money matters seem like a bottomless pit - where does it end? How do I get started? How will I know if I'm making the right choices? If you've never handled your family's finances you may be wondering how you can do it now, by yourself, and with fewer resources. Taking responsibility for your family's money is so important and it can seem like you need to have so much knowledge, you may wonder if you can really start without having some financial expertise.

However, it's important to realize that you ARE able to handle your family's finances. You may have never done it before and you may not feel like doing it now, but you can. There are people and resources to help you. It's not about becoming a financial professional. It's not about having your whole life perfectly organized and planned. It's about starting exactly where you are and taking small, manageable steps.

If you're tremendously fearful of handling your family's finances, let the benefits convince you. You'll have the peace of mind knowing that you can take care of your basic, monthly expenses. You won't be caught by surprise (meaning without money) for unexpected expenses. You'll have the comfort of knowing that you're doing the best for your family.

While you're navigating the difficult journey of grief it's important to know how to think about time. Don't feel panicked. Panicking about your money can lead to making poor, rushed decisions. At the same time, don't feel like time is limitless. Unfortunately, even while you're grieving bills still need to be paid. You can't postpone making money decisions forever. You can't assume that someone else will do it for you. And the truth is that the longer you wait to deal with your finances, the more overwhelming things can become.

This section is designed to help encourage you, educate you about the importance of personal financial planning and leave you feeling well-equipped to do the work and recruit the help you need to take care of yourself and your family.