Are you reaching for financial goals in 2022? Although creating goals is something that is popular on January 1^st, as we reach the middle of the year, there’s still time to reach your financial goals this year.

Goals are good as they provide direction and a path to follow to achieve an objective. 

Defining Goals

According to Dictionary.com, goals are the result or achievement toward which effort is directed. Short-term goals will activate soon, a day, week, possibly a few months. Long-term goals are achieved over a longer period; semester, one year, first quarter, five years.   

Financial goals help you move towards your objectives with money. For example, if your objective is to save up enough money for an emergency fund ($1000), your goal might be to trim some expenses and save a certain dollar amount weekly or monthly until you reach the $1000 goal.

Reaching Financial Goals in 2022: Four Ways Goals help you Meet your Objectives

As you are developing financial goals for next year, keep in mind that goals affect your outcome.  They help you meet your end objective in four ways.

1. Goals give you a choice in the matter. With a goal, now you must choose whether I go out to eat for lunch or bring my lunch to work. Goals focus your attention towards your objective and away from distractions.
2. When you have goals in place to meet objectives, you become energized about meeting your goals and you increase the effort toward them. A goal will induce greater effort toward saving money than no goal at all. No one wants to fail at a goal.        
3. When you have goals your ability to work through setbacks increases. So, because of an unexpected expense, you are not able to save as much as you wanted to this month. Goals will help you to work through this set back, keep pursuing the goal, and keep you on track to saving in the next month.
4. Goals can lead to individuals developing and changing the behavior. The goal of saving money will help you think about saving money and help develop a saving behavior. 

SMART Goals

 When you set your goals use the S.M.A.R.T. test.  S.M.A.R.T. goals are:

1. Specific – detailed and focused and specify the result.

Example:  I want to save $1000 so I can have a beginner emergency fund, the final objective.

• Measurable – quantifiable. There must be a method of comparison that indicates when the goal is reached.

Example:  I want to save $100 per month to reach my goal of $1000 saved.    

• Action-Oriented – tells what is to be done to reach the goal. Action Verb tells the type of activity performed. You want to keep the goal in front of you.  Write the goal down and keep a copy in your purse or wallet. Put a copy of your goal on the mirror in your bathroom; keep it in front of you as a reminder.    

Example:  I will save $100 dollars per month until I reach $1000. 

• Realistic – practical, achievable, and possible. Goals must motivate individuals to improve and reach attainable ends (not too easy or too hard).

Example:   I plan to save $20 per week. 

• Time constrained – scheduled or regulated by time.

Example:  Save $1000 by the end of the year. 

When your goals meet the S.M.A.R.T. test, they will be better goals and more attainable.

Reaching Financial Goals in 2022: Did You Know

Did you know that only 5% of the population has clearly defined written goals? According to a recent study, people who write their goals are more successful at achieving them, whereas those who did not write goals down were only moderately successful. 

The value of writing down goals, cannot be understated.   

You can begin reaching financial goals in 2022 by setting objectives for what you want to achieve with your finances, and then develop short-term and long-term goals. Celebrate the achievement of each goal, and by all means, stay focused. I am a financial coach and would love to help you set some SMART financial goals. Contact me if you are ready to be coached.