30 DAYS TO BETTER MONEY HABITS
Your life is created by your habits. If you improve a habit, you will improve your life. Improving financial habits will improve your financial situation.
Follow this four-step plan this month, and see how much improvement you can make!
Choose one or two money habits to improve at a time. Any more than two habits will get overwhelming and increase the likeliness that you will give up. Start simple. Choose just one or two areas where you need improvement, and start today. For example, you might decide to pay your bills on time and build your emergency savings fund.
Make a plan. Write your goal. Write steps you need to take to achieve it. Schedule time to work on your goal into your calendar. For example, if your goal is to pay your bills on time, start by making a list of all the bills you have, the usual amounts, and when they are due. Then, schedule a time in your calendar to pay the bills before the due date. Get specific. Try to plan something to do to work towards your goal every day or every week to keep it at the front of your mind.
Follow your plan. Once you have your plan, follow it! Don’t get lazy or distracted. Planning something small to do every day to work towards your goal will help you stay on track. If you miss a day, don’t sweat it! Just recommit to your goal and your plan the next day.
Evaluate at the end of the month. After you’ve been working towards your goal for one month, take some time to evaluate it. Include the evaluation in your plan to make sure it happens! How did it go? Make a list of the things you did well, and the things you could improve. Change your plan if you need to. Then, keep going!
Once you’ve mastered one financial habit, choose one or two more areas to work on. Slowly but surely, you’ll develop the good habits you need to keep your finances healthy.
Remember that new habits can take some time to form. Don’t beat yourself up if you slip up—just keep going. Daily attention and frequent evaluation will help you develop good financial habits quickly.