66% of Americans plan on making financial resolutions/goals for the new year. The beginning of a new year is always a great time to set some financial goals. What about keeping track of that goal and ensuring they come to life? What if your financial goals, every one of them, got accomplished? What are practical steps and things you can do? Let’s talk about goals and how you can achieve your financial goals!
Write down your goals
Writing down your goals is an excellent way to stay organized and accountable for the goals/resolutions you want to accomplish. Taking the time to write out what you want to accomplish outlines a plan of action and shows your intent in fulfilling those goals. Whether you write them in a planner or jot down notes on paper, writing out your goals helps remind you exactly what your ambitions are and how far you have come towards achieving them. This simple process can empower and motivate you in many areas of life, so go ahead and pick up that pen or start typing – write down those goals and watch them come true! Writing down your financial goals lets you visualize them; you can review them and adjust them if necessary.
Get Started
Many people forget their financial goals, do not write them down, and do not take that next step. Taking action is often a challenge, but once you start the journey, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment that will keep you going. Making progress in life is done one small step at a time! Set up that auto-draft into a savings account. Increase your retirement withholdings from your paycheck. Call and schedule a meeting with your financial planner or accountant. Set your goals and plans in motion!
Have a follow-up plan
Everyone has different financial goals, especially in terms of the numbers that are involved. For some people, saving $100 a month is a big accomplishment; for others, saving $1,000 a month is a big accomplishment. Having a follow-up plan is critical in achieving your goals. We forget, do not have time, or get worried because we are behind on our goals. A follow-up plan gives you a reminder and an extra layer of discipline, ensuring that everything stays on track over time. One way to implement follow-up into your life is to ensure all your deadlines are written down on a calendar or chart, so you’ll never miss another crucial follow-up date again. Having a follow-up plan helps you make sure that nothing gets forgotten – so don’t wait until tomorrow to get started!
See it through to completion
What happens when you achieve your financial goal/resolution? Think about your feeling and sense of accomplishment when you accomplish your financial goal/resolution. Plan on a celebration. We think they are most certainly in order. Go eat at that fancy restaurant. Buy that overdue manicure/pedicure. Take that weekend getaway. Taking time to celebrate those accomplishments is also important—reminiscing about what we achieved helps motivate us as we tackle the next financial goal head-on!
Resources:
Financial Planner (Link below for your FREE financial planner)
- Financial planners are perfect for you to get a jump start on writing down your goals! Use our planners in whatever way works best for you! You can budget, update your net worth, make notes, and, most importantly, WRITE DOWN YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS.
Budget
- Our website offers a simple, easy-to-use budgeting tool. Get into the habit of budgeting to see where you are making money, investing and saving, and spending. Budgets are great ways to get started and track your financial goals.
Update your net worth
- This is the big picture. How much money do you have? Where is all of that money at? Who do you owe money to? These questions are important to know because they let you see where you are. This is YOUR financial snapshot.
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