Get Organized And Save

As Financial Literacy Month comes to an end this week, it's a perfect time for an honest financial conversation. Regardless of who you are, how many years you have under your belt or what your financial situation is, you have absolutely phenomenal capabilities to be financially secure.

Be Disciplined

The key to financial success is making the commitment to the cause. Set yourself up for success, not failure.

Make a plan that fits your needs, your abilities and your stamina.

There are thousands of ways to meet any one specific goal, and while there may seem to be endless reasons and excuses working against you, there's one compelling reason to keep trying: You can do it. It's up to you to take control and seize responsibility for your own actions and inactions.

So, regardless of whether you get paid weekly, bi-weekly or intermittently, there is a plan that can be adjusted to meet your needs. You simply need to be brutally honest with yourself about a) how much you bring in, b) how much you spend, c) how much you are willing to save and d) how much you want to meet your goals. If you fib in any of those four areas, you are quite likely to not press yourself to make it happen. The only thing stopping you is yourself.

Example 1: Save $1,000

Below is just a brief example of how there are so many approaches to meeting one goal – saving $1,000.

Sources: HelloPrettyBird.com, WhatMommyDoes.com, AMomsTake.com, WhatMommyDoes.com 

But What About Unforeseen Circumstances?

Life happens. Things pop up out of the blue that cost money. The simple oil change turns into $100+ repairs. Your job security was not as stable as you assumed. You get into an accident. Your parents, brothers, sisters, children or other close friend needs desperate financial help. A loved one dies. An unplanned child is born. Not everything in life is predictable.

However, you are in control of what comes in and goes out, and what you ultimately make of this life. It may mean sacrificing in other areas, scrimping and saving and readjusting your goals, but nothing happens in life that is beyond your ability to face and be in power. You alone allow the outside world to influence your finances. You alone make the decisions for what is important or necessary or a frivolous expense.

Oftentimes, the biggest hindrance to success is our own selves and our feelings of entitlement. This sense of "I deserve this lifestyle" or "the world owes this to me" undermines the truth. The world does not owe you anything and you do not deserve a certain lifestyle.

You alone determine the influence the outside world has on your inner fulfilment.

If you find yourself saying, "I don't have time," what you are really saying is "I don't consider that a priority. If it was a priority, you would find time. If it is that important to you to be financially secure, financially independent, and unshackled from each paycheck, scrupulously saving and planning would be a priority.

The indolent and unenthused will always seek out excuses to justify their failures and unmet goals instead of taking responsibility for their own situations.

Do The Work

In order to succeed, you have to make that decision to find the gumption to make your financial goals a life choice.

There are countless free resources and ideas for how to get started and how to stay motivated.

Whether you have no idea where to start…

Source: Dave Ramsey, CrazyTogether.com

Or know you just need to be thinking about retirement, but aren't sure how to get organized…

Source: MarketPlace.org

Or just need some structure…

Source: Ladies' Home Journal Magazine, SimplySaveMN.com

There are resources available to help succeed. Do what it takes, put in the work and make your financial wellbeing a priority, not optional. Your future self deserves that much from you.