Why You Need to Have Concrete Financial Goals

As I think back over my last couple of years it’s pretty incredible how far I’ve come.

I remember in my early twenties working a low paying office job and thinking that I’d never earn more than $2,000 a month. Where I live there really are no high paying jobs. As far as flexibility and pay, I was doing okay compared to others in my area. (Median household income in my county is $33,000/year.)

But living on $2,000 a month meant that there was never really anything to save. On top of that I was stuck in a dead end job. It didn’t matter how hard I worked, I’d always get paid $2,000 a month.

So when I set the goal to make a living online that $3,000 a month mark felt like such a great goal. I remember reading other people’s income reports with a little envy. “If only I could make $3,000 a month.” I thought.

And then when I hit the $3,000 a month mark that wasn’t good enough. I wanted to make $5,000 a month. Now that I’m close to the $5,000 a month mark I can only guess that I still won’t be satisfied and will then bump that goal number up again.

Which leads me to my current thought pattern……..

There’s a Problem with Numbers

They never end.

Numbers go on forever and ever and ever. Numbers never end.

THAT is why it’s so important to set a firm number to your financial goals. If you don’t you’ll never feel content with where you’re at. You’ll be on a lifelong chase for more.

Why You (I) Need Concrete Financial Goals

We’re all after different things in life. Some people want to retire extremely early and it makes sense for them to strive to make as much money as possible now as long as they have a deadline for their goal.

There there’s me. I do have a lot of financial goals. But at the same time I don’t want to feel like I’m always chasing the almighty dollar. There needs to be a balance.

So what’s the solution?

For me the best thing seems to be to stick to the income goal that will help me achieve all of my other financial goals and after getting that down pact to instead focus on the other stuff that makes me happy.

Money plays a large role in life – there’s no doubt about it. But that doesn’t mean that life should revolve around money.

So the next time I start giving myself crap for not reaching my inflated financial goals I’m going to instead be content that I’ve come this far and remind myself that numbers are never going to end.