Video: Building & Sticking to Financial Goals

In this 1 and a half minute video, Dr. Erika Rasure, Beyond Finance’s Chief Financial Wellness Advisor, shares 3 tips to build and follow through on your financial goals:

Transcript:

When working towards financial goals, here are a few key things to remember: 

1. Get inspired. 

Pick a positive reason to motivate yourself. For example, “I want to get out of debt to afford family vacations.” Avoid negative reasons like, “I don’t want to feel anxious,” because they’re less motivating. Focus on something exciting and positive for your future. 

2. Set a realistic goal and take baby steps. 

Break your goal into manageable actions. If your goal is $500 in savings by year-end, think of it as saving $25 per week. Slow, intentional steps lead to big results. 

3. Celebrate progress, no matter how small. 

Even saving $5 a week isn’t trivial. It’s building a habit of prioritizing your future self. It’s a powerful step towards the mindset that you deserve good things. Small actions now prepare you for saving more later. 

If you struggle to stick to your goals, ask yourself why. Spending is often emotional — maybe you splurge to give your family a great Christmas. But does this align with your money values? Are your values about gifts or are they about long-term financial security? Clarifying your money values can reshape the way you approach spending and saving. 

Finally, forming habits takes time, and life won’t always go as planned. Stick to it. Positive change can and will happen.