An Unfair Advantage - Documentary / Una Ventaja Injusta - Documental


| | | | | StraightSilver

6/09/2010

Financial Freedom, Part One: Going for the Goal

Everyone, no matter how large or small their income, makes enough money to invest in their future wealth. Too many people are convinced this isn’t true, because they tend to spend money whenever and wherever they see something they desire, without any thought of their real, long-term goals.

They simply keep putting off until tomorrow what they need to be saving today. They tell themselves they will put aside some money next week or next month, but sooner than later it is next year or many years later.
Instead, everyone should realize that even small savings, when managed correctly, can ultimately grow into real wealth. Today is the day to begin creating a better financial future for yourself and your family.


The Road Map

Financial goals are very much like road maps that show you the pathway from where you are today to where you wish to be in the future. Like a road map, if you get off the best course, you must get back on the pathway defined and continue your journey toward your goals.

No one is perfect, and if you should happen to venture from your defined path, which may happen from time to time, simply turn around, get back on the pathway you defined, and continue working toward reaching your dreams.

Learn from your mistakes, and promise yourself not to repeat the same errors when you drift from your personal financial goals. You will find yourself a much happier person as a result.

Financial goals can seem daunting if the goals are looked at as only a single very large goal. Perhaps you have a goal of having a million dollars in savings when you retire. That number seems awfully large and intimidating when you look at it alone.

If you thought of it as only a single, big goal, it might make it difficult for you to begin saving because you feel intimidated. Instead, you should be taking small, manageable steps to achieve large, specific goals.
You must realize that everyone who has retired before you with $1 million in savings began by placing that first dollar into savings, keeping it there over the long term, adding to it on a regular basis, and building their wealth over time.

Financial goals can be viewed in different ways. You can set short-term goals, which can be achieved in weeks or a few months. You can set longer-range goals, which cover a year or more. You can set very long-term goals that include preparing for retirement or even beyond retirement toward leaving a legacy for your children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren to enjoy.

No matter how you look at your financial goals, if you set them, track your progress toward achievements and adjust your goals periodically to meet your changing circumstances, you will obtain the wealth you desire.

The advantage of setting goals is that you will have a plan to work toward rather than working in the dark, hoping things work out for you. Failing to plan is said to be the same as planning to fail. This applies to personal finances as much as any other type of projects; perhaps it is even truer when applied to money.
In order to generate personal wealth, you have to become passionate about setting and achieving financial goals. If you must, think of your personal goals as hard milestones so you will strive to achieve them.
If you maintain a mindset that nothing whatsoever has the ability to stop you from achieving your goals, you will find yourself progressing steadily toward financial wealth. Let nothing stop you from achieving your goals.

In order to set financial goals, you must think about what you want your life to be in the future. You must look at where you are today and where you want to be in the future based on the money you have to work with. What do you want your financial position to be in five years? Where do you want to be in 10 years? Twenty years? How much money do you want to have when you retire? What sort of inheritance would you like to leave for your family when you leave this world?

You certainly are aware that you have income and expenses. You should already have a budget in place, but a surprising number of people do not use this essential tool. If you do not have a budget, now is the time to create one by sitting down with your family and determining how to use the money that comes into your hands.

If, on the other hand, you already have a budget in place but find that every month you just barely make ends meet, it is time to throw that budget away and start over by creating a budget that will support your financial goals as well as meet your current needs by adjusting how the money is spent.

Financial goals are different for people because of varying circumstances and desires. There is no one set of goals that will work for everyone. You must examine your life and your desires, determine what you want your financial future to become, and set goals accordingly.

You can seek advice from a professional financial counselor regarding how to meet your goals once you know what your financial desires are, because this is something no one else can do for you and your family.
You may find the advice of a financial advisor essential in figuring out how to reduce your debt burden if you have been overusing credit cards or other debts and are now paying high rates of interest that could better be used elsewhere.

If you have children, your goal may be to have enough money to provide them a quality education while still having enough money to retire comfortably. Another person might have a goal of retiring early and enjoying life without having to work every day. Still another will have another answer to the questions of where they want to be financially at certain periods in their lives.

The one thing everyone who desires sound personal finances has in common is the need to set aside money for the future and allow that money to grow untouched until their goals have been reached.

Original Article from http://wealthmagazine.com/