Steps to Achieve Your Financial Dreams

Today we celebrate the life and teachings of the late Martin Luther King Jr. On August 28, 1963 he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in which he laid out the vision he had for America.  King believed that every one of us should be free to pursue our dreams and showed unbelievable strength, self-sacrifice, determination, and perseverance in that quest.

For many of us, the trail to realize our own dreams – especially financially - can also be a struggle. Whatever those dreams might be, it is important to keep your eyes on the prize.

King once wrote, “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.”

If the dream is to a more stable financial footing, it will take work to achieve. However, there are some steps you can take along the way to make progress towards your goals.

Identify what you want and give it a deadline.

Each of us has things we aspire to, and as silly as it might seem, the first step to making any dream happen is to express it. Are you trying to obtain a house? A new car? A nest egg for retirement?  Ask yourself why you’re chasing this particular dream. The more reasons you identify the more motivated you will be.

Find out what it will cost.

Whatever the goal, discuss your dream with family or a financial counselor, set a timeline and a strategy to get there. Don’t be discouraged if the timeline is a long one, there are milestones you can celebrate along the way.

One good idea is a special savings account that you designate to put money aside for this dream. For example, there are a variety of savings accounts at Community Financial to help get you started.

Identify potential obstacles.

While obstacles may stand in the way, such as dealing with debt while trying to save, there is not much that cannot be overcome with advanced planning. Ask yourself: What are some of the things that will keep you from achieving your dream? Assess your financial needs, and get in help if need be.

Implement your plan. 

After all of the work and planning, just do it. King wrote that “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” With hard work and perseverance, like Dr. King preached, you can see your dreams become reality.