How to Set Goals for Your Money

From daily objectives to lifelong dreams, many people set financial goals to try to improve their life. The formula to success may require drive and ambition but careful planning and execution can be important factors as well.

If you’re ready to start setting goals for your money, here are some tips to help you succeed:

Understand your personal finances

Before setting your goals, it will be beneficial to understand the state of your unique financial situation. If you haven’t visited your finances recently, now is a good time to get yourself up to speed. Having a clear understanding of where you stand can result in more reasonable and realistic goals.

To help you get started, here are some documents that will be helpful to review:

• Pay statements
• Bank statements
• Credit card statements
• Insurance policies
• Investment documents
• Tax returns

Identify your goals

Do you plan to purchase a new home or vehicle within the next two years? What about paying off a credit card account in the next 12 months? Whatever your goals may be, identifying what they are and ranking them based on priority or time frame could be beneficial.

Here are some examples of common goals and potential time frames:

• Short-term - buy a new computer, pay off a small debt, save for a minor home improvement
• Medium-term - buy a car, pay off a medical bill, save for a vacation
• Long-term - buy a home, pay down student loan debt, save for retirement

Get specific

Take a look at each goal and analyze the steps to make it happen. “Buying a home” may seem like a logical goal but what are the specifics to achieving success? For example, it could include selling your current residence and saving up a down payment. Both of these matters might be essential to reach your end goal and should be detailed in your overall plan.

In the case of saving up a down payment, decide exactly how much you need to save and create a specific time frame. For instance, if you need to save $10,000 in the next two years, you can make a goal to save $417 per month for the next 24 months. The more specific you get, the more clear your goal may become.

Create an action plan

With a clear goal in mind, it’s time to create an action plan. This is your opportunity to map out each individual step down your path to success.

In order to stay on track, here are some details to include in your plan:

• Choose a start and end date
• Set achievement milestones
• Set weekly or monthly targets for review
• Establish alternative plans of action

Plan for success

When setting goals for your money, frame your approach to be realistic, specific and actionable. By understanding what you want and how to get there, you could have a good chance of turning your goals into reality.