Simple Goal-Setting Tips

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by Hope Welborn, Staff Writer I think all of us would agree that having goals is important. We need something to work toward, some motivation that drives us forward. A goal is an assertion of what you want the future to look like. This principle certainly applies to our finances. Without a goal, financial planning loses its meaning. For Christians, the process of setting goals should include prayer, reading God’s Word, and desiring a future that glorifies and honors our Lord. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established” (NASB). Our goals should come from the desires that God has placed in our hearts, according to the plans He has for our lives—we want to align our goals with His! Define the goal. The first step in setting a goal is to clearly define it. Take a look at where you are now and where you want to be Be specific. Don’t say, “Get out of debt.” Instead say, “Pay off all credit card debt in two years.” For a savings or giving goal, set a specific dollar amount or a percentage of income. Be realistic. Don’t set a goal that is dependent on financial increases. Set the goal based on where you are now and what you can realistically do. If you do receive an increase, use it to reach your goal that much faster. Married couples should set their goals together and include their children as appropriate. For example, if your goal is to pay off a debt, your children should be aware of what that may entail. Then, if you must say no to spending on certain items, they can better understand the reasons why. Singles can consult a trusted friend or family member to help them with this process and to provide some “progress checks” along the way. As a single person, I have found that my parents have sound, biblical financial advice, and I know that they always have my best interests at heart. Chart the goal. Write down your goal and post it in a visible spot. A written plan provides a visible objective to work toward. It helps you measure your progress and stay on track. It is exciting and motivating to track your progress and check off items as you reach each goal. I have found that a tool like the Crown Money Map™ is a great way to keep track of my goals and progress. I recently paid off my only debt (a car loan), and now I’m on Destination 4, saving for a house. Breaking a large goal down into smaller ones that you can reach in quicker intervals can help keep you on track. Write down all the steps you will need to take to ultimately reach your larger goal. Next, you should create a timeline, including deadlines for the small goals as well as the final end date for the large goal. Figure out how long it will take to reach each step or decide on the date when you want the goal to be reached and work backwards from there. Practice patience. It may take a while to reach your goal. Don’t get discouraged! Keep plodding along steadily. “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5 NASB). Refine the goal. You may experience setbacks or interruptions in your plans. Don't give up! Be flexible and learn to adjust your goals based on your current situation. I hadn’t planned on buying a new washing machine, but when mine suddenly broke down, it was reassuring to know that I had the money to buy a new one. I just had to adjust the extra amount I was putting towards my car loan, but that was fine. Be open to God’s leading. Pray over each goal often to ensure that you are moving in the right direction. After each major life changing event—change of jobs, buying a new house, children leaving home, birth of children and/or grandchildren, and so on—reeval‎uate your goals, adapt them, and use this as an opportunity to add new ones. Celebrate! Be sure to celebrate when you reach a goal, no matter whether it’s small or large. Mark the event on your progress chart, and tell others about reaching the goal. The celebration will energize you to move on to the next step or to the next goal.

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