Millennial Money: Managing finances on top of COVID burnout

I’m writing this between my daughter’s diaper changes, bottle breaks and naps, as well as my own weepy fits of anxiety and despair. Our day care closed because of a COVID-19 case, so our baby gets to gurgle at my husband and me as we stare at our computers — tense shoulders at ears — and attempt to work.

The very last thing I want to do is think about my finances.

I’m sure I’m not alone. Money is a major source of stress for many people, and who needs more stress right now? After nearly a year of the pandemic, you may already be wading through desperation, loneliness, grief, exhaustion or, of course, fear.

“The stress is compounded by the fact that you might actually die,” says Brad Klontz, certified financial planner, psychologist and author of “Money Mammoth.” “A ridiculous amount of stressors has fallen on everybody.”

Cue good old avoidance. That’s my go-to — just don’t deal with the thing that’s making you pull out your hair. But avoiding money issues makes them worse. And if you’re like the many, many people who’ve taken a financial hit, you can’t afford to let your situation get much worse.

TALK IT OUT

Now that we’re all thoroughly depressed, here’s a gentle reminder from Klontz: “You might feel alone, but you’re not.” In fact, he adds, “chances are your friends are sitting there feeling exactly the same way.”

So reach out to a trusted friend or family member about what’s stressing you out. You may not get solutions, but you’ll likely feel better after venting and getting some commiseration. And your friend may be grateful to learn that you’re open to talking about money issues — they may be weighing on them, too.

To keep each other safe, you’ll probably have to jump on the phone or a video call, or...