6 Ways to Stop Sabotaging Your Financial Goals

When we create financial goals we do so with a specific future in mind. Unfortunately our goals sometimes get sabotaged by circumstances beyond our control because life is unpredictable. The flu pandemic that shook the world in 2020 is a good example. None of us saw that coming and most people's best laid plans were left in tatters.

Apart from unforeseen circumstances there are other ways we sabotage our own financial goals, some more subtle than others. You may recognise a few from the list below.

Money in my pocket is better than in someone else's pocket.

Buying perishable items in bulk to save money. It's a lie. Don't fall for it. This only works when you have a need for the items - like an event. My philosophy on this one is - money in my pocket is better than in soneone elses's pocket. Marketers know what they are doing when they offer you buy one get one free deals. Do you really need those extra tubs of ice cream? I know you think they will last all summer but you and I know that each time you go the fridge, you'll want to have a scoop or two.

Buying items because they are cheap or on sale. I was once connected to someone who influenced me to go shopping with them. Every Friday we would visit a shopping centre which sold end of line designer clothes at dead cheap prices. There were two big catches. You couldn't try the clothes on and the stores didn't accept returns. We reasoned that if anything didn't fit we could sell it for a profit. There was one problem - we never did. Most of those clothes were never worn and ended up in a charity bag. What a waste! Time wasted shopping when I could have been learning new skills, and money wasted that could have been invested for profit.

How to Stop Sabotaging Your Financial Goals

I know how hard it is to plan for the future and set financial goals. After many years of struggling I created a financial plan which worked for me. It made the transition from chaos to order a lot smoother. I will share what I did so you too can feel confident, worry-free and excited about your future. Imagine always having enough money to take care of your family, travel the world, and pursue your dreams!

Before you set your financial goals, it's important to know which financial goals you want to achieve. You should have a monthly savings plan that will help you achieve your big goals.

This is what I've been doing to achieve my goals. This particular system is not for everyone, but it has worked wonders for me!

Write down a realistic list of your financial goals which gives you a sense of ownership. An important aspect of this which you may want to consider is whether you want to rent or buy your home. Renting offers flexibility and can be easier if you plan on moving around in the near future.

Be clear about how much money you need to save and invest. Buying items in bulk should not be part of your investment strategy as it is not a saving. Saving is putting your money where it will give you a higher return. I am not investment expert do you need to do your own research or consult a financial advisor.

Set specific monthly objectives to help you achieve the big ones. For example, if you are interested in investing for the long term, set up an automatic investment plan, where you save a fixed amount of money every month into an investment fund.

Allow room for adjustments. Be flexible and be willing to make changes if your plan is not working. Tweak it until it suits your needs.

Track your spending by keep your receipts. I always ask for a receipt at the till. It helps me monitor my spending habits, and easily identify patterns.

Never spend money unnecessarily. This one ties in with your ability to set and enforce boundaries in your life. Having clear boundaries will help you to say No to anything that threatens to sabotage your financial goals.

Takeaway

• Set realistic financial goals.
• Be clear about how much money you need to save and invest.
• Set specific monthly objectives to help you achieve the big ones.
• Allow room for adjustments.
• Track your spending.
• Never spend money unnecessarily.

Don't miss out on your financial goals because you're trying to be perfect. Keep adjusting your strategy until you get it right.

If I can do it, so can you!