What is the first step in financial success?
Experts agree that a personal financial budget is a critical first step. Organizing your finances, making sure you know how much you earn and how much you spend, is the very first step.
But let’s face it, for most people … That’s Just Boring!
Not many people say, “Hey, I think I’ll go balance the checkbook … that will be fun”
(no offense to people that like budgeting, I’m happen to be one of those people myself – we’re just not in the majority)
We do it because we have to, it serves a purpose. And in today’s economy, when money is tight – even the ‘budgeting is fun’ people of the world are hesitant to look at the numbers.
I found a way to put organizing my finances and budgeting into an entirely different light. I starting doing “Cash Flow Coaching” rather than balancing my checkbook and crunching numbers on my own.
Here’s what happened. I felt like I wasn’t climbing uphill, in the dark, alone. I started focusing on Solutions and Options and Opportunities. This wasn’t like the budgeting I remember!
Now, to be fair, some people that choose Cash Flow Coaching actually will be climbing uphill, if that’s your financial reality today, but you won’t be alone and it won’t be in the dark.
Even when I used a Certified Financial Planner, the focus wasn’t on gaining control of my finances it was on retirement, or health insurance, or “The Plan”. Don’t get me wrong, I’m quite interested in all of those things.
But until a person has control of their personal finances, are organized, and understand their financial reality, it is almost impossible to create a plan or visualize a successful financial future.
So, I agree with the experts: Budget Control is Critical
I’ve found that it is some much easier, faster, and more effective if I enlist the help of someone that is truly focusing on this first step with me. That’s where Cash Flow Coaching comes in. It makes taking control easier that I thought possible.
I’ve talked about it in this blog before and introduced a couple of experts. Well, they are at it again with another information session.
Here’s how to register for free:
Cash Flow Coaching: The Path to Financial Wellness
Hope and Change start at home!
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT
The information they share gave me a different perspective on the First Step in Personal Financial Success. Just getting organized and knowing that you’ve got a budget and are in control is like a weight lifted off your shoulders.
Simply having a budget in place doesn’t change your financial situation … but it FEELS different! Once that step is taken, you can give yourself permission to take the next step with confidence. The next step may be addressing debt issues or uncovering unseen capabilities or planning for exciting possibilities … whatever it is, you’ll be ready to tackle it with the help of Your Cash Flow Coach!
