Have you heard this advice before? “What gets measured
gets improved.”
It’s particularly applicable to your finances. When you focus
on your numbers – your bills, your debts, how you spend
your money, and how much you save for your future – those
numbers tend to improve. It’s human nature. We want to
“win” at whatever game or challenge we’re facing.
So let’s go . . . game on.
If you’ve been following my series on de-stressing your
finances, you’ve already done some of the work when you
took inventory of your debts, expenses, savings, and more.
Now it’s time to create a monthly budget and keep track of
those numbers on a regular basis . . . making sure you find
the money to apply to those areas where you want to win.
Step #1: Look online for a budgeting worksheet you like
(spreadsheets and apps work, too). Then start inputting your
numbers. This will take some time to find all the expenses,
particularly if you do a one-year budget where your costs
change month to month.
Step #2: Highlight one area where you want to focus first,
such as: Creating a small emergency fund • Paying off your
car loan • Saving 15% of your paycheck for retirement.
Step #3: Decide how you’ll get the money together to
achieve that goal. If it’s a $1,000 emergency fund, for
example, can you: sell unused sports equipment or other
items? Do weekend projects? Take a second job for 90 days?
And if it’s saving 15% in a retirement plan at work, calculate
how much your new take-home pay would be – then budget
other areas (eating out, travel, cable TV) accordingly.
There’s real power in focusing on one goal at a time until
it’s achieved. And what’s even more powerful is how many
opportunities will appear unexpectedly to help you achieve
your goal faster or easier.
I’m up for that kind of powerful focus . . . how about you?
In fact, focus is what the Oola lifestyle taught me, and it’s
what I help others do as an Oola Life Coach. If you think
working together to keep you on track and accountable for
results is something that would get you to a balanced life
(and finances) faster, I’m here to help.
Message me and we can jump on a call to chat about it. Or
go here to check out the 10-Week Oola Coaching Program I
deliver for clients who want more balance, less stress, and
more happiness in their lives.
For now, drop a comment below and share the one thing
you’ll be focused on as your very first “win.”
