Yes, You Can Win With Money – Figueroa Financial

My wife Stacey completed her first 5K run yesterday. This was a goal she set for herself a couple of months ago. She prepared herself by finding a training regime and executing it with great commitment by training regularly. During her training, she had to deal with an injury to her heel but this did not stop her. Instead, she found information on how to treat her injury and she also sought advice on her running shoes. To sum up, she kept going in spite of the obstacles. Finally she achieved her goal by running and finishing the race. I am very proud of her and I know this is not her last race.

What can we learn and apply from Stacey’s achievement with regard to your finances? Here are just a few lessons you can apply so you can win with your money:

Start where you are. Stacey had never run a 5K before so this was new to her. In your case, control of your finances may seem out of reach. But it is not. You can start today because if you don’t tomorrow you will be in the same place you are today.
Set a goal. Stacey’s goal was to enter and complete a 5K race. She picked a specific race with a specific date. A specific goal will help you determine the necessary steps. What are some goals you could set for yourself? Here are a couple: “I will have a working budget starting in November“; “I will finish my beginner’s emergency fund by Dec 30“; or “I will pay off all of my consumer debt by June 2013“. All of those goals have a specific target with an actual end date.
Prepare yourself. Gather information, gain wisdom. Take a class, read a book, research financial blogs. Learn about the different ways to prepare and track a budget, how to get out of debt, or how to prepare for retirement. The more information you have, the more prepared you will be.
Fight against discouragement. Whenever you attempt change, difficulties will come. Don’t give in and don’t give up. Keep the goal in mind. Get some wise counsel around you, keep fighting and keep going.
Follow through. There is nothing that fuels your fire more than achieving a personal goal. It shows you that it can be done and it gives you the momentum to keep going. You will be more energized to set the next goal and take the next steps. And don’t forget to celebrate your wins!