Thank you for tolerating my radio silence last week. I’m back in the saddle and eager to provide writers with personal finance suggestions! 

If you have a question for an upcoming Money Monday, let me know. I’d love to hear from you.  

In a recent post, I shared the 50/20/30 Rule (a budgeting secret weapon) with you lovely readers. The 50/20/30 Rule is a fantastic life hack, and I hope it got you energized about saving money.

The thing is, it can be easy to consider a hack in theory, but implementing one? What about those books on your wish list? Your weekly mani/pedi? It's almost Pumpkin Spice Latte season – where does Jessica get off with these "savings goals"?! #selfcareisimportant

Putting a savings goal into practice – like any change – is tougher than it looks. Even your daily coffee habit can get in the way of achieving this, though some people seem to be okay with that.

But – can I tell you a secret? – building positive saving habits can be as easy as shifting your perspective.

Out with the Old Perspective...

If you’re diligently saving money every month, but you don’t have a goal in mind, you might feel like you’re depriving yourself of fun and happiness RIGHT NOW.

...in with the New!

But, if you're saving with a goal in mind, you will feel less like an ascetic hermit and more like you’re working towards your goal: attending an expensive writing conference, going to work for yourself, buying a house, whatever it might be.

Having a savings goal allows you to track your progress.

For me, budgeting at the end of the month is so much fun. (Yes, I say this without sarcasm. Yes, I know, I’m a total nerd.)

Monica Geller comparisons aside, I find it fun because it gamifies my savings! By planning for the next month while reviewing the past month's income and expenses, I can see how much I’ve saved towards my total. 

If I have a bad month where I don’t get to put as much away? That’s fine; it just means I have to hustle harder next time.

If I have a great month? That means I get to put away a little more than usual, which in turn decreases the amount I need to save each month to meet my goals. Then it feels like I've leveled up.

My original goal for Hatch Editorial Services was to take my business full-time by the year 2019. The fact that I was able to make this a reality three years ahead of schedule makes me feel like a rockstar. This felt so much more gratifying than a daily adult sippy cup.

Think of Saving as Paying Yourself

A lot of people see savings as money they can’t spend right now, money they’re taking away from themselves.

For this reason, saving can feel an awful lot like self-deprivation.

But try shifting your perspective. Instead of thinking of all the instant gratification you're missing out on, think of it as paying yourself down the road.

You should still absolutely treat yourself if it fits your budget  – after all, those weekly mani/pedis could become monthly; you could check those books out of your local library.

But to really get moving, you need to make savings your primary focus. To do that, you need a savings goal so that you can have your eye on the prize.

What are your savings goals? What are you doing to meet them? I'd love to hear from you!

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I look forward to chatting with you soon!

Cheers,
Jessica

Jessica Hatch is not a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker/Dealer, Financial Analyst, Financial Bank, Securities Broker or Financial Planner. The information in this blog post is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, is general in nature and not specific to you. Ms. Hatch is not responsible for any investment decisions made by you. You are responsible for your own investment research and investment decisions.