Now, more than ever, it’s important to shore up our financial foundations and resources. Money gives you options (like the ability to leave a job, a relationship or a country), and in the current political environment, it’s critical to preserve as many options as we can. 

Here are 3 steps to shore up your financial foundations today:

1️⃣ Make sure you have a savings account that’s in your name only. No matter the quality of your relationship, it’s critical that you have funds that you can access no matter what. And if you’re not currently saving, try to start now – even if it’s just a few dollars every month. Every little bit helps if you need to make a change. Even if you have debt, you should still put money towards a savings account or emergency fund each month.

2️⃣ Ensure your retirement funds are invested. I’ve heard too many stories of folks who have contributed money to their retirement accounts, only to find out years later that the funds were never actually invested – they just sat there and did nothing. The future is uncertain, so let’s make sure we have as much in the coffers as possible for whatever comes our way.

3️⃣ Consider where you’re spending your money. While I’m not recommending that you slash your budget out of fear, now is a good time to reevaluate where your money is going. If you have debt, what can you rebalance so that you have the funds to pay that down quicker? If you haven’t been saving, are these small expenses you can cut out to start doing so?

All 3 of these things are important in any environment. But with the potential for a rollback of civil liberties, increased threats to marginalized communities, financial instability in the markets and global trade wars, and an erosion of progress in areas like climate change, healthcare, and economic equity, these financial actions are more critical than ever. 

The best thing we can do to weather the next 4 years is to prepare ourselves – and shore up our finances to keep our options open.