How would you like to go from your budget being a disaster to having $800 left over for the month? It would be easy to say that would be an awesome place to be. You may be thinking, is this really possible? The good news is that it is possible. Read about how this worked for one young family.
While teaching a financial class, I asked the group how their budgets where going. One couple said that their budget is a disaster. I have to admit, when they gave the class that answer, I wish I had never asked that question (which I mumbled that statement out loud). However, they replied stating, “That even though the budget was a disaster, if they did not make the effort to do a budget, their finances would have been in shambles.”
I was glad to hear that. However, it left me thinking. On one hand the budget did not work, but on the other hand it did work. How is that possible?
That got me to thinking and then it dawned on me. When you begin to pay attention to your money, even if you are doing everything wrong, the needle will still move in a positive direction. When I do one-on one-coaching, usually the first budget doesn’t work. However, after ninety days of working together the budget is working great.
The next month when I asked the class how their budgets are going, the same couple responded. They shared that this month they had $800 left over…after Christmas shopping! They kept thinking they forgot to pay someone. The truth is they were taking control of their money, instead of the money controlling them. They were excited that they finally had control of their money and were beginning to reach their goals.
Looking for motivation to start 2012 off right?
In 1952, young Florence Chadwick stepped into the waters of the Pacific Ocean off Catalina Island, determined to swim to the shore of mainland California. She’d already been the first woman to swim the English Channel both ways. The weather was foggy and chilly; she could hardly see the boats accompanying her. Still, she swam for fifteen hours. When she begged to be taken out of the water along the way, her mother, in a boat alongside, told her she was close and that she could make it. Finally, physically and emotionally exhausted, she stopped swimming and was pulled out. It wasn’t until she was on the boat that she discovered the shore was less than half a mile away.
At a news conference the next day she said, “All I could see was the fog.…I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it.”
Do you have goals or dreams that you think are out of reach because of the “fog”? You may be closer than you think, and it is not time to give up just yet. One of the top New Year’s resolutions is to get one’s financial house in order by getting out of debt and living on a realistic game plan. If this describes you, click here to find out we can help you navigate through the fog and give you hope that tomorrow’s financial future can be brighter.