Being clear about what you value most is a great place to start.
This is your opportunity to dig deep and think about what really matters to you in your life on a financial level.
That might be financial security, travel, fun, investing, growth, charity, peace of mind, or any number of things.
Whatever it is, your values are there to help you prioritize how you allocate your money.
If it’s something you value, it should show up on your budget. If it’s not something you value then it should not dominate your budget.
Sounds like a common sense approach to spending money right?
The problem is, many haven’t openly embraced their values or they’re not honest about what those values are.
For example, if you value financial security then it would make sense for you to have an emergency fund that you contribute to on a regular basis.
If you value convenience, spending time with friends, or trying new foods, dining out might be a large expenditure as well.
Usually, people pretend that dining out is not high on the priority list, but when I look at the bank statements, it tells a different story.
This is what you need to know: Dining out is not the problem. Not being clear and upfront about it is.
When you’re honest about your priorities, you have more clarity about next steps.
Your money’s yours to do with as you please. But be sure to get clarity around your values and have them show up on your budget accordingly.
A simple, yet powerful directive.
Go ahead and write down your top 3 values for 2019