IHateFinancialPlanning.com offers advice on managing your money (ARA) - When life gets unpredictable, there’s one thing Americans always want to hang onto: their money. During times of national uncertainty, it’s only natural to want to hunker down and hang on to your cash — or at a minimum, squeeze as much as possible out of every paycheck (that is, if you’re still getting one). Many Americans are feeling less secure about their lives than ever.

Randy Schuldt, vice president with IHateFinancialPlanning.com, a Web site for the three out of four Americans who hate financial planning. “Although it may seem impossible to predict what the future will bring, there are some simple steps you can take to give you more control of your money in a changing world.” To give you and your family something to hang onto during uncertain or changing times, IHateFinancialPlanning.com offers the following tips: Put it in perspective. If history is any indication, the economy may not suffer long-term ill effects from recent events.

Dow Jones industrial average — the oldest U.S. market benchmark — typically falls for a short time, but it has traditionally rebounded within six months. It happened after Pearl Harbor, the Gulf War, the World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results, but there’s a possibility that history may repeat itself. Fearful reactions will only make the short-term last longer. Reduce your deficit. The nation’s economic outlook is nothing you can control, but you do have control over your own situation.

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