Financial Shifts are only as hard as you make them.
The Transition Time
With the mention of financial planning, people often roll their eyes or imagine what they will have to stop doing now in order to live later. There are thoughts of what vacations must be postponed, or what major sacrifices must occur in order to get through this transition time. This transition time is a time of reflection and proactive planning. This transition time is a time of accountability and upgraded responsibility. This transition time is a struggle for many to be released of old mindsets, habits, and methods that have proven that it is time for an elevated way of doing things.
Some popular upgradable statements: Everyone will always have debt. It can be paid down later. There is no way to defeat this debt now.
The Limiting Beliefs
Everyone will always have debt. While it is true that some debts may take longer to eliminate than others – mortgage, car, student loans, it is not true that everyone will always have debt. There are people who have worked to defeat not only their credit card and car note debt, but they have worked to annihilate their student loan and mortgage as well. When looking to make lifestyle changes, start looking at how others have achieved those same and greater goals, even if unable to be surrounded by them, it is possible to be surrounded by their journey, their lessons, their growth, and their methods used to achieve their goals. By surrounding yourself with people, thoughts, or examples of where you want to be, it further helps break existing limiting beliefs because you see what is possible.
There is no way to defeat this debt now. The debt was not acquired over night or even over a couple of months, so why think it will only take a couple of weeks to cancel that debt? It was a process to acquire the debt, so it will take a process to get rid of that debt.
Three Step Process:
Identify all debt that needs to be paid off (credit cards, medical bills, student loans, car loans, etc.)
Determine what needs to be paid off first (higher interest bearing or lower balances)
Plan the budget to identify ways to save additional money (Everything gets included in the budget – Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Eating Lunch out, Amazon Purchases, Poshmark and Etsy Purchases, Movies on the weekend, Taking the kids to the trampoline Park, everything gets included in the budget)
When working through this process, and making sure everything is on the budget, then it is easier to see where spending can be shifted. Instead of buying food out, take time to buy and prepare lunches and snacks to take to work/school with you. Instead of going out every weekend with friends to dinner and a movie, maybe go once a month. The plan is as aggressive or laid back as necessary for the results by the designated due date.
Commit to a Plan
All plans require the same basic steps.
Set the goal
Determine how to achieve the goal(s) and
Be committed to the Plan.
The problem with most plans is that after a short time, the motivation and excitement dwindle away. With financial planning, the excitement is typically in seeing the high debt balances come down, or the savings and investments go up. The commitment must come from within, though accountability helps, ultimately it is a financial plan with a purpose and unless you see it through, it will not serve its purpose.
Call to Action:
Identify your limiting beliefs (upgradable statements).
Determine your goals – pay off debt, increase savings or investments, prepare for retirement or legacy
Develop your plan of action and your accountability to stay on track.
Come back and let us know how your plan is going!
Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. ~ Proverbs 21:5 (NLT)