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Learn good money habits

January 6, 2023 • By Kevin Alvarez

Make Money Resolutions That Stick

Maybe you only have one resolution this year. Maybe you have a laundry list of resolutions and a goal of being so self-actualized your friends and family will hardly recognize you! Maybe your resolution is to not have a resolution.

Set A Goal (and Write It Down)

Goal setting gives you direction. You can decide on your destination and make a plan to get there. This might seem small, but it’s not. Not only is goal setting found to be linked to higher achievement and self-confidence, but writing down your goal can also make you 42% more likely to succeed.

Get Clear

Getting clear on your priorities and deciding on a specific goal are two keys to success. When it comes to your money and your financial situation, set aside some time to reflect on what you really want to accomplish – and be specific.

Ask yourself three “W” questions:

  • What do you want to accomplish?
  • When will you achieve it?
  • Why does it matter to you?

Visualizing a dollar amount can lead to success, whether it is a specific figure to save, pay off or earn in the year ahead. Keep that figure alive by writing it down or tracking it in an app. A real dollar amount makes for a real goal. Give yourself a deadline while you’re at it, to motivate you even further.

Be Positive and Realistic

Goals can challenge you and help you grow into a new future. Choosing a goal that is attainable is another important part of success. Let’s say you’ve chosen a clear goal – with a positive outcome – such as: “In five years, I will be debt free. I will pay off my entire debt of $12,000 so that I can focus on enjoying my family instead of worrying about money.” Be sure it’s a realistic goal given your specific situation. Given your income, debts and expenses, is it realistic to spend $200 on your goal each month? Is it possible to pay it off even faster by spending $250 a month? Or does your budget allow for $100? Staying positive and realistic shows you how much you can devote to achieving your money resolution.

Money Resolutions That Stick

Hit Those Milestones

Making your goal measurable will help it stick. Keeping track of your progress can help you stay focused and motivated. Tracking progress on an app or spreadsheet, or a simple notebook, helps you see your future getting closer and closer. Break your goal into smaller milestones. This makes it easier to see your progress and it’s less intimidating. For example, a mini-resolution might be to pay off one consumer credit card. Making smaller changes over time is often easier than trying to make a massive change all at once. Celebrate your success along the way. Celebrating wins actually “trains your brain” by reinforcing your new habits, which in turn makes it easier to stay on track if you hit a bump in the road at some point.

Make (and Work) The Plan

Money resolutions often go by the wayside if they serve as a goal without a plan. A plan outlines how you will accomplish your goal. Keep it simple. The plan might dearly define how much you will spend toward your goal, how often you’ll make deposits on it, and the method you’ll use to transfer money toward your goal. For instance, automating monthly payments or savings goals is proven to help people stick with money resolutions.

Choose one habit at a time to change. For example, if you need to reduce your credit card spending, focus on making that change as your first milestone. Then move on to setting money aside for payoff.

This article is shared by our partners at GreenPath Financial Wellness, a trusted national non-profit.

GreenPath Financial Wellness

November 2, 2022 • By Kevin Alvarez

Free Webinar November 9 — What Is Your Money Personality?

Your money personality affects your attitudes, behavior, and financial choices you make – as well as the consequences of those choices. Your financial personality also affects your feelings about money such as shame, guilt, and fear.

Understand Your Money Personality

The way you think about money is unique to you. We learn attitudes about money from our families and communities. We form opinions about all these things over many years. And it’s hard to change those beliefs. It’s even harder trying to change your partner’s relationship with money.

Money Personality

Click through each tab below to learn more.

  • What You Will Learn

  • Who Should Attend

  • Details

What You Will Learn

  • How to find your financial personality
  • How your personality shapes financial decisions
  • How to use your personality to your advantage

Who Should Attend

  • Anyone who wants to better understand themselves, and how their money personality us impacting their financial decisions.

Details

Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Time: 12:00 pm PST

If you are unable to attend this webinar and learn about your financial personality, you can register and a link with a recording will be sent out to all registrants after the webinar.

Click the red button below to register.


Register Now

This free, one hour webinar is presented by GreenPath Financial Wellness

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