black calculator on desk with budget and pen to set financial goals

Turn off Autopilot & Set Financial Goals

Welcome to the first step in the Roadmap to Financial Health Series! To start you off on the right foot you will set some real financial goals.  These will focus your journey and motivate you to keep going.  This is possibly the most important step of the process because it will involve having real, personal conversations both internally and with your spouse about money.

If your history in discussing money has been filled with argument, guilt or blame don’t despair! Start this journey with us on the right foot by changing the stage for your conversation with your spouse or significant other.  Make a nice meal or drop the kids off at the grandparents’ for a night. Make the time relaxed and focus the conversation on how much better the whole family will feel when you are controlling your money, not the other way around!  Let’s swim onward!

Step 0: Turn off autopilot and set realistic goals

Gaining control of our money often feels like such a difficult feat that it overwhelms us.  We know things could be better, but the jargon and confusion push us to ignore it. All too often, it isn’t until we arrive at a financial crossroads that we get the push we need to make the necessary changes.  This adds untold stress to families and relationships when a little work upfront could have led to smoother sailing overtime.  So, what should you do?  Turn off autopilot and steer towards a real goal!

We all arrive at this journey in different ways and with different notions of what will make it successful.  You can’t start the journey without knowing where you want to go so take a quiet moment and write down your goals. Decide what things cause you the most stress and set a goal to fix them.  Feel free to write down as many goals as you would like and prioritize them as we move through the next steps on the Roadmap.  Just be sure to keep them realistic.

Do you want to keep better track of your spending? Achieve financial independence? Buy a house? Save for a car?  Pay off one credit card? Not buy one piece of children’s clothing for a month?  (That last one probably doesn’t count as realistic…) 

Discover your money goals with the FREE Complete Financial Swim Test!

Key goal setting considerations

Dealing with a spouse:

If you have a significant other, I highly recommend doing this goal setting session together.  If there are two main spenders in the house, there need to be two main planners!  I cannot stress this enough.  Undergoing this journey on your own will only be frustrating, and setting your family goals and trying to dictate them to your spouse isn’t going to give them the warm and fuzzies.

If you and your spouse have different financial habits, this conversation may have to be multi-stage.  Share each person’s views of your priorities without judgment, then come back together to discuss how you can compromise to a common goal. The first step in becoming a stronger and more financially successful couple is to stop making money a taboo subject in your relationship!

Related Post: 7 Money Conversations to Have With Your Spouse

Staggered goals:

I am a BIG FAN of staggered goals.  Set a one-month goal you feel you can achieve, a 6-month goal, and a longer-term goal.  As you achieve your goals, don’t forget to celebrate your successes and congratulate your family on work well done.  I’m not saying go on a major spending splurge, but go out for ice cream, make a special meal, or whatever makes your family feel appreciated and will reinvigorate them to keep up with their new found financial habits.

A necessary starting foundation: 

To set yourself up for true financial health, you should ensure you have a strong foundation.  A strong foundation includes a responsible emergency fund, a debt-free life, and consistent retirement savings.  That doesn’t mean you should shy away from discretionary goals like that trip to Disney or Taylor Swift tickets for your daughter, but if your family doesn’t have these three core things they should be your biggest priority.  TSwift will be so much more enjoyable if you aren’t worried about the credit card bills for six months after the concert.

Goal setting & emotional money baggage: 

As you think through your goals, try to be honest with yourself about why you are writing down each item.  If you want to be able to afford a new luxury car because cars are your passion and you love the feeling it gives you while you drive, great! If you want a new luxury car because you’re the only one in your neighborhood without one, it might be time to think again.  You may stick out as the only one driving a reasonably priced car today, but it also may mean you retire five years earlier than your neighbor. They’ll be driving to work in that fancy car while you put your feet up at the pool.

Here are some common early financial goals:

  • Pay off one credit card
  • Pay off student loans
  • Build a 3-month emergency fund
  • Save 15% of pre-tax income for retirement
  • Create and maintain a budget
  • Eliminate three non-core expenses
  • Create a new income stream

Good luck with this first step!  What is your biggest financial goal?  What is a good short-term goal to get you started?  Let me know and keep yourself accountable!

Read the next step on the Roadmap to Financial Health here: Step 1.1 – Choose a Budget Tracker.

Setting financial goals to achieve your dreams

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