Budgeting: Start Your Plan Today
The official kick off of the holiday season is only one day away. Right now most people are planning dinners and thinking about the gifts they have to buy in December. But before you get caught up in the holiday season, start your budgeting plan for next year. Financial success doesn’t happen overnight and it sure doesn’t come by accident. If you want to escape the rat race you need to look past the crowd. Every person needs to have a short term plan, AKA what you plan to do for the holiday season. And at the same time every person needs a long term plan, AKA what you plan to accomplish in the new year. Let me repeat that one more time, you should always have a short term and long term plan.
Short Term Planning
On average most people have a short term plan, even if they don’t know it. We all usually have an idea of where we will be for the holidays and what we need to buy prior to the big day. In addition to that we all know what bills are due for the month and when the car appointment needs to be made. In general these are the little lists we create and carry around in our heads on a daily basis. While these lists would better be served in a checklist, most of us accomplish what we need to then move on with our week. It may not be the most efficient method, but it is form of budgeting.
Long Term Planning
All too often though most of us don’t take the time to create a long term plan. We get so caught up in the short term hustle that we forget about our real goals. And these are the goals that matter the most such as travel, financial independence, early retirement, ETC. Without long a yearly budgeting plan the average middle class worker will not reach these dreams. Remember we all have the potential to be as successful as we desire, but you have to lay the foundation. Before you reach the end of the year write down your long term goals. Start your your budgeting plan today with the steps necessary to be successful. Even if the plan isn’t perfect, if you stick with it, those dreams will become reality.
