9 Signs You’re Doing Well Financially (Even if It Doesn’t Feel Like It)

Thinking of your finances might often feel stressful, especially if you're worried about if you're doing OK financially.

A quick check of your portfolio may show you that where you stand financially is better than you expected.

So before you worry about any negative outlooks, check out some of the surprising reasons why you might be doing better financially than you think.

1. Stocks are lower than a year ago

You may have lamented the red ink on your 401(k) reports as stock markets went down, but that also means you can pick up some solid stocks at bargain prices in 2024.

So if you have some cash that’s been sitting on the sideline, now may be a good time to consider getting back into the market with lower prices and start investing .

2. Rising interest rates boost your savings

Sure, you may be worried about high interest rates if you’re applying for a loan for a home purchase or car purchase. Those rates, however, can be a good thing for your savings.

The high interest rates may allow you to earn more money on the cash you have sitting in your bank or financial institution.

It also may be a good idea to check on moving some of your cash to a high-yield savings account if you want to maximize any additional earned interest.

3. The housing market is cooling off

You may have been saving for a new home and wondering when you’ll ever be able to use it for a downpayment. After all, prices have been rising, and you may have been priced out of the market in recent years.

But you may have an opening to buy that home you want as the market has begun to cool off, and the pace of increases could start to slow in 2024 and 2025 even if prices don't decrease significantly.

So give that down payment another look and think about what that can buy you in the area you’re currently searching for a home.

Enjoying our content? Click the Follow button above to see more from us.

4. Your side hustle paid off

Side hustles are a great way to make extra money and have become a viable option for some people to boost their bank accounts.

Maybe you discovered your love for a hobby, and you’ve been able to monetize it, or you’ve decided to use your free time to pursue another way to make money outside of your 9-to-5 job.

Even a few extra dollars can help if you’ve been able to turn a profit with your side hustle, so focus on your side hustle's successes and what you can do to make your side hustle continue to work for you.

5. The labor market is strong

Employers added 3.1 million jobs in 2023, indicating a strong job market. And the average hourly wage in the U.S. continues to go up for employees.

Those statistics could be good news for you if you’re looking for a new job. You may be able to find something else with better pay or benefits as wages increase and you won’t have to worry about excessive competition with a low unemployment rate.

6. Cancellation of some student debt

The government has already forgiven $168.5 billion in student debt for 4.76 million borrowers.

It canceled almost $6 billion in student debt for public service workers and another $24 billion in loan forgiveness was approved as part of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

So check and see if you qualified for one of these loan forgiveness programs to help you clear off some debt.

7. You changed jobs

There may have been a bit of an upheaval in your work life; maybe you changed jobs or perhaps even careers. But you wouldn’t be alone. In fact, the dramatic job switch for many workers was given the name the Great Resignation.

One of the biggest reasons employees gave for making a change was increasing pay. So while you may have been nervous about making a change, that switch to a new job could be paying off for you in your bank account.

8. Tackling your debt

As your career outlook may have switched in the past few years, it may have helped you find or save some extra cash to put towards chances to crush your debt .

Consider the loan payments you may have paid in the past year that have gotten you closer to getting rid of that loan. And consider credit card debt that you may have been able to knock down recently as well.

9. Working from home helps you save

You may have been able to save some extra cash if you’ve been working from home in recent years.

And while you may miss the office some days, it’s also a good idea to check your bank account and see how the change in your work environment has helped you financially.

Sit down with your budget to see how much you may have been able to save by not spending money on gas or wear and tear on your car because of a commute. You also might want to factor in the cost of things like lunch or coffee that you’ve been able to save.

Grow Your $$: 11 brilliant ways to build wealth after 40

Bottom line

Sometimes it may be frustrating to look at your financial portfolio and wonder if you’re better off financially than you were a few months or a few years ago.

But there are surprising ways that you may have been able to save cash and keep your financial portfolio in check.

It’s also a good idea to spend some time focusing on those positives as you continue to get ahead financially .

Money tips that can work for everyone

No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.

Focus on paying off your debt . Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.

Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.

Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).