“You can’t always get what you want. But if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need.”
– Rolling Stones, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”
With the holiday season in full swing and most of us balancing ever-tightening budgets, I figured this was a great time to introduce a proven 5-step plan to ensuring your financial success not just now, but for life.
Each day this week, we’ll take an in-depth look at an individual step – starting with No. 1….
Produce a list of needs vs. wants
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a trend of solving issues initially by writing the information you need on a sheet of paper. That’s because it’s more difficult to avoid what’s right in front of us. This allows us to be honest with ourselves and, in turn, devise credible solutions to better our lives.
At the top of a sheet of paper, write in big letters “NEEDS” on the left and “WANTS” on the right. Draw a line straight down the middle of the paper and start listing what it is in life that you know you “need” to survive and what you “want” to improve your life. Be brutally honest. You’ll be surprised how many items you think you can’t live without are really just wants.
Depending on your financial position, you’ll have the opportunity to acquire more “wants.” If you’re barely making ends meet, eliminate as many of these items as you can. This will allow you to, at best, save more money, and at worst, cover your basic survival necessities. As you save more or increase your monthly income, you’ll have the opportunity to continue saving or adding more “wants” to your life.
If you truly want to improve your financial situation, you need to take a first step that utilizes best practices to achieve long-term success. Shortcuts are often not the best solution. Instead, by taking stock of your life, understanding what you need vs. what you want and making difficult, but necessary decisions, this initial step can take you a long way.
Check back tomorrow for step two …..
Make today better than yesterday, but not as great as tomorrow!
Chris Errington is a husband, dad, writer, seeker of truth and fervent believer in the power of utilizing best practices to live a more balanced and enjoyable life. When I’m not coaching Little League baseball, rooting for the Steelers and West Virginia University or desperately attempting to grow grass in the front/back yards, I’m working my plan to live my ultimate goal – Writing remotely from the deck of a 32-foot sloop while sailing throughout the Caribbean. Getting my wife to agree is another matter entirely.
– Follow me at:
Tsu: www.tsu.co/Chrissports
Twitter: @Tribunewriter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/chris-errington/6/aa3/553/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chris.errington.564
Best Practice Life 