Financial Goals

Hi there! It’s nice to meet you!
My name is Diane Money. Have you ever heard that old saying, “Money talks”? Well… this
Money is here to listen. That’s right, I’d love to hear all about your hopes and dreams, struggles
and stressors, and all the stuff about money that drives you crazy. Why? Because I know it isn’t
easy. The learning curve to managing personal finances can look steep. And lots of people have
a hard time staying afloat when the waves are big, and the sharks are licking their lips. (Wait, do
sharks even have lips?) But you know what? Money doesn’t have to be so hard, and I’m here to
help.
Making it easy starts with one thing: a goal. I know, I know…you’ve set all kinds of goals and
have reached more than a few of them. You have a lot of reasons to be proud. But here’s what
often happens to people when it comes to money.
 They set a goal and then forget about it—or give up on it.
 They set a goal they think they should set—not one they care about.
 They set too many goals and try to reach them—simultaneously.
 They don’t set any goals—at all.
Any of that sound familiar? No worries! Let’s talk about it.
Forgetting or giving up on a goal.
When we learn something new, it’s easy to get motivated, set a goal, and then…lose steam. But
saving up for a beach weekend, an engagement ring, or a new hot water heater takes time. So
does paying down debt. Reaching your money goal is more like running a marathon than a
sprint. Sometimes, things change. But your goal can be as resilient and adaptable as you are!
There’s no need to be discouraged, even when adjustments need to be made. And when life
gets busy, a sticky note or phone reminder can help you keep your goal on the radar.
Someone else’s goal.
Few things are drearier than working hard to accomplish something you don’t care much about.
There’s no rule that says money has to be miserable! Why not set a financial goal that makes
you smile—one you’d be excited to reach? There are all kinds of gurus out there who are more
than willing to tell you what you should be doing. But your goal must be yours. It should be
deeply connected to your hopes and dreams and reflect the things that matter to you, not
anybody else.
Too many goals.
Getting money right takes focus, and that’s why setting a goal is helpful. It can be tempting to
suck it up and try to get everything on track all at once. But if we have more than one or two
goals we’re working toward, we’re less likely to reach any of them. Anything that divides your
attention is counterproductive and stressful. It’s like changing the destination on your GPS
again and again before you arrive at the first place you navigated to. You might spend a lot of
time behind the wheel, but all that driving doesn’t get you where you want to go. Instead,

choose one goal at a time and focus your efforts on reaching it. Then move forward to the next
one with the added confidence you’ll have from your success.
No goal at all.
It’s simple. People who don’t set out to do something, often end up accomplishing nothing.
That’s just as true for money things as it is for everything else. You don’t have to know that the
goal you set is the Absolute Best and Most Perfect Goal Ever. It just needs to be important
enough to hold your interest and keep you motivated. It doesn’t even have to be big. Buying a
house or paying off college loans are certainly worthwhile. But so is getting rid of that pesky,
high-interest credit card balance or finally replacing the floral sofa you got from your
grandmother.
Money doesn’t have to be misery or mystery. You just have to start somewhere and setting
your goal is where the journey begins. Easy, right? I believe in you, and I’ll always be here to
help. You’ve got this!
Remember who loves you! ;-)
--Diane

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