A little motivation for your financial goals

Good morning Dinks. Today we are discussing our financial goals and how we are working towards achieving them.  I say financial goals because the truth is that people most likely have personal goals such as travelling, finding a better job, changing careers etc. but all of those personal goals have a financial undertone.

I am always intrigued to hear other people’s financial goals. As a financial planner I always ask my clients what are you working towards, what are you saving for and what do you want to do over the next year. I like to know because it helps me be a better financial planner. When you set your personal goals you can determine your financial priorities, financial priorities help us set our budget and our budget is the base to good financial habits.

What keeps your motivated to continue working towards your goals?

I love setting goals because achieving a task always makes me feel proud.  I always like achieving my goal because there is always something great in it for me such as a vacation etc.  People set goals because they want to change something in their life, but the reasons that keep us motivated are different for everyone.

– Tracking your progress with a budget and goals tracker.  Some people like to see their progress towards achieving their goal. As that red bar turns green and you work towards achieving your personal and financial goals it can be very empowering.  People often say this about weight loss, the first five pounds are hard to loose, but after that you have adjusted to your new lifestyle and it’s smooth sailing from there. Does tracking your progress keep you motivated towards achieving your goals?

– Earning rewards on your savings account.  Some of us need a little incentive to work towards our goals.  For some people the end result, aka the prize that you are working towards, can sometimes be incentive enough but for some others they need a little more encouragement along the way.  Companies like Save Up reward clients for their good spending habits. Each and every time you don’t spend money or deposit money into your savings account you will earn credits. You can then use those credits to play Save Up games and have the chance to win great prizes such as gift cards and cash money. Do you need some savings encouragement with rewards?

– Healthy competition with your friends and family.  Maybe you like working towards and achieving your personal goals because you want to be equal to or better than your family and friends. Do you often talk about money with your family and friends? If you do then maybe you also discuss your latest purchases, your next planned vacation and the square footage of your home.  This is not my style, but it used to be.  As I became financially responsible I learned that I don’t have to keep up with the Jones’.  All I have to do is be happy and healthy because that is what really makes us rich.

Photo by AmyLovesYah

Kristina Tahnyak

Tahnya is a Certified Financial Planner and former Investment Advisor turned marketing and communications professional She holds a degree from Concordia University, is debt free and currently works in the field of digital marketing.