ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – For many adults, personal finances are causing a lot of stress. According to a poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, four in ten adults say their finances are a major source of stress as household expenses increase and savings decrease.

Nathan Grant, senior finance analyst for MoneyTips, said “I think right now a lot of people are worried about what’s happening with things like the economy, inflation, rising costs of things everywhere.”

Grant said there are several things Americans can do to manage financial stress. First, he said people should focus on what they can control.

He said, “Don’t focus on the things that you actually can’t take steps towards improving. What you want to do is look at other things that are common with stress, and I think one of the biggest things is saving money. Make sure you have enough in your savings and, of course, pay off high-interest debts. Those are things that just, year-round, no matter what the economy is doing people are really concerned about that and those are some of the leading causes of financial stress.”

Grant said decreasing or even eliminating stress over finances starts with creating a budget and figuring out how much you can put towards saving for emergencies. Also, avoid unnecessary expenses. Cut back on food delivery and rideshare services, review your monthly subscriptions, and eliminate the ones you may not use. Next, prioritize debt repayment.

“Prioritizing your debt repayment is important because that high interest is costing money, and on top of that is it often feels like quicksand because you’re like, ‘I keep chipping away and I still have it.’ So that’s a very important thing to focus on,” Grant explained.

He suggests you also set achievable financial goals. If your financial goals are too lofty, you may never feel you’re making progress and that can cause even more stress. Finally, find ways to increase your income.

Grant said, “I think one of the things we have to remember is right now we have more tools at our disposal than ever before than any time in history when it comes to managing financial stress. So the first thing you want to do is look at the things like apps that are out there because not only do most banks and credit cards have their own robust apps or online portals with tons of options that can help you pretty much do everything you need to do with your account, but there are also standalone apps that are built around educating and helping you take action on good financial habits — things like Mint, Credit Karma, Rocket Money. They’re going to help you with those things like budgeting, with those things like saving and, of course, building your credit scores.”

Grant also said you shouldn’t be afraid to speak with a professional banker or financial advisor about help. They have the knowledge and expertise that can remove some of the stress.

Also, call your credit card company to find out about the perks and benefits you can use to your advantage. See if you qualify for interest-free balance transfer offers, can reduce your interest rate, or can move your billing due date to a date that works best for you.