It’s not too late: Set those goals now!

by | Mar 22, 2019 | Empowerment

It’s not too late to set your financial and personal goals for 2019. I think that sometimes people set their goals in January and then by March 15th or mid-March those goals are in shambles. Here are some smart tips to get you back on track.

  • If you have credit card debt, it makes paying off your mortgage nearly impossible. Interest from credit card debt also eats away at the money you could be putting into a retirement account. Pay off those credit cards!
  • Review your financial situation. Look at all your bank accounts — if you have a regular savings account, make sure you’re getting the best possible interest on it. Shop around!
  • Talk to your investment adviser if you haven’t had a meeting with him or her this year. Have them take a look at your income and expenses and make sure that you’re not going too crazy. Make that appointment!
  • Make sure that you’re putting money away. Do this by setting smart, specific goals that are measurable and realistic. Don’t set an average amount for your goals!
  • Be specific about any kind of goal. Whether it’s a financial or personal goal, having an accountability support system greatly increases your success.

Mindset is really important when you’re trying to make a change. Last year I set a goal around meditating, reading more, exercising, eating healthy — and I did great all through last year. Then it got cold. I stopped exercising because my exercise is usually to go out for a walk, and I didn’t want to go to the gym in the mornings when it was dark, cold, and snowy. Oh, I had a million excuses.

Then last week, I met with my Boldheart tribe (a group and individual mentoring program), and I made up my mind to keep walking, no matter what. This morning my fingers were freezing and my jacket wasn’t warm enough — but the sun was out, it was a beautiful morning, and I felt better afterwards.

And something is always better than nothing. One thing my father taught me a long time ago — and this is growing up in the retail business — it’s better to have some money in the register than nothing at all. If you set a goal that you’re going to save a certain amount of money and then things change and you can’t save that amount of money, you can just try to save some of it. Put something away. Cut back on something. You don’t have to do it cold turkey.