Skip to main content

See (and Set) Your Sights

I did something earlier this year that I have wanted to do for a long time–I purchased my own firearm. I’m not a total greenhorn when it comes to handling a gun, but I’m not super confident either. So, I did what any brand new, responsible gun owner would do, and I registered for a pistol-shooting basics class. One of the things we learned was how to aim at our target (I said BASICS). And ya know what? For a novice shooter, I’m not a bad shot.

In Kingsford’s book “Brain-powered Weight Loss,” Step 8, she says “If you don’t aim for a target, you will never hit anything.” That statement is so simple that one might be tempted to overlook it. She suggests making goals, SMART goals. Please pardon me if I have discussed SMART goals in the past, but they are very important and bear repeating. SMART is an acronym for:

·         Specific–this is pretty self-explanatory

·         Measurable–use actual figures, dates, stuff you can measure

·         Attainable–make sure it’s reachable

·         Realistic–make sure it’s a good representation of what you want

·         Timely–give it a completion date that is not so far off that you’ll forget about it

I’ve probably also said this before too, but a goal that is NOT written down is only a wish. So set some written goals for your financial health.

Don’t wish your life away. Plan and achieve, my friend!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

One More–Christmas Experiences Part II

Christmas is just a week away. Hopefully you’ve checked everything off your to-do list and can spend some quality time “experiencing” Christmas gifts with your family. Because, after all, your loved ones will be far more touched by how you made them feel than they will be with what you gave them. This week, I want to share with you my sister, Carey’s, family Christmas experience. “One Christmas, when my boys, now 18, 23 and 28, were little, we gave them an experience that is still talked about now. And it’s something so easily replicated that any family can do it, and it’s not too late to do it for Christmas (even ON Christmas) this year. We drove around our neighborhood and looked at all the homes decorated for the holiday. We took note of the addresses as we numbered them. We talked about what made each ornamented yards stand out. And at the end of the night, we voted for our favorite. I had my sons help me make some of our favorite holiday desserts and, in addition to taking p...

Books Equal Bucks

 In November PBS always hosts their  Annual Reading Marathon . “Wow. That’s the  second  time this month that our financial blogger has gone off the rails regarding blog topics. What does reading have to do with finances?” My answer? Everything. Establishing good reading habits in children–reading 20 minutes a day–can literally change their financial future. Good readers do better in school. Good readers are more likely to graduate from high school. Good readers will probably make more money as adults. Reading changes EVERYTHING          . That being said, books  can  be expensive, but they don’t have to be. Libraries are some of the best resources for book access–they play SUCH an important role in our community. You can also share/trade books with your neighbors, friends, and family members (just make sure you have a good system for tracking book ownership). Second-hand stores or garage sales are awesome places to s...

Bon Voyage

Many of you are aware that I like to travel. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting a few foreign countries and taking a handful of cruises, and I intend to do more in the not-to-distant future. Because you know me, you know I don’t finance these trips–I plan ahead and save for them. And if you’ve followed my blog for a while, you are also aware that I do use one credit card for which I earn flight miles, and I use this card on the trips where I see the world. There is one thing about my credit card for which I am especially grateful–whenever there is suspicious activity on my account, I get a text notification. The credit card company recognizes that charges abroad MIGHT NOT BE LEGIT, and they send me a message. All I have to do is confirm that it is, in fact, me that made the peculiar purchase, and I’m good to go. If I did not make the purchase, I respond in kind, and my card is deactivated. Note to self and others: one could avoid these potential interruptions if one calls credit car...