Is Cash Flow Your Problem – or Is It Something Else?

Money … that’s what I want, as the song goes. We think having more of it will solve all our problems. And if you can’t afford to repair a broken down pickup that you desperately need to get to work, getting a one-time injection of funds into your bank account (or debit account, as the case may be) would be a godsend.

Many factors could be impeding the flow of cash into your life, from an unstable economy to health struggles to a sudden job loss. However, if financial stability has long been an issue for you, there may be a separate problem worth addressing to get you out of the red.

Illinois Minimum Wage Is Higher Than in Indiana & Wisconsin

One silver lining to consider here in the Land of Lincoln is our comparatively high minimum wage. In 2025, it reached $15 an hour and $9 for jobs such as waiting tables that rely on tips. While that might not seem like very much, those figures are higher than in all of our neighboring states. Companies in both Indiana and Wisconsin are only required by law to pay workers $7.25 an hour.

Minimum wage earners may still struggle, especially if they are supporting others, going to college, or live in a town with a high cost of living. But at least you know you can slide across the border into Illinois if you are in search of a bigger paycheck at the end of the week. As long as you’re employed and your rent or mortgage isn’t gobbling up all those hard-earned dollars, look for other money suckers holding you back.

Why Cash Flow May Not Be the (Main) Problem

One recent study at Stanford University found something surprising to anyone who has ever prayed they would find a wad of cash on the side of the road: paying off a person’s debt didn’t immediately offer up the benefits one might expect. Even if they regularly received more cash each month, they weren’t happier. The boost in funds didn’t improve their health, either.

People sometimes ended up spending more money, and who wouldn’t? But other important issues weren’t being addressed alongside their slightly bigger influx of dough. A single medical bill can throw your life into financial chaos. There are many compounding factors when it comes to assessing any person’s financial wellbeing. What the study suggested was that, for some, cash flow wasn’t really the problem they thought it was.

Time Management Might Be a Hidden Money Problem

You likely know what your main money problems are. Sometimes all you can do is break those down into small steps and start addressing each one. However, through it all, pay more attention to how you are valuing and allotting your time.

Creating a time budget will help you schedule your days more efficiently.

In addition to a money budget, create a time budget. Start just as you would with any other budget: by listing how you have spent the last 30 days. Or week. Or year. You might discover a person in your life who is getting disproportionate attention without contributing the value you deserve. Or, perhaps there’s a seemingly inexpensive habit that occupies too many hours. Time is precious, and people need to act like it if they want to take their financial well being to the next level.

You can still have fun, blow off steam, and spend time with the people you love! But you should be doing so intentionally, aware of the value you are getting out of those moments, as well as how much of your schedule is going into them.

Control Your Cash Flow Using Currency Exchange Financial Services

No matter how limited your funds are, you can find many ways to control and manage them through various currency exchange services:

• Spend less using a prepaid debit card.
• Cash your paychecks ASAP or during off hours.
• Pay bills electronically.
• Avoid fines by replacing your car stickers on time.
• Send money to just about anywhere on earth.

Check out our services online, or stop by your nearest CCEA location and one of our team members will take care of your requests quickly and efficiently.