The Thrill Is Gone: How to Catch Up to Your Finances

“2015! This is the year that I create and keep my financial goals. This is the year I save a percentage of everything I earn. This is the year that I get out of debt. This is the year that I cut up my credit cards. This is the year that I cook more and go out to eat less. This is the year that I follow my game plan towards financial freedom. This is the year…”

Remember how thrilling that was? We created charts and shared our goals enthusiastically with whoever would listen. We downloaded our software and skipped off to the office supply store for all of our files and labels to get organized. Where is that bag of colorful file folders anyway? The thrill is gone.

It is still early in the year and there is absolutely nothing you can do about the time that has passed by. Making yourself wrong and offering yourself up on the altar of financial misfits is not useful. At the end of the day we can only start where we are right now.

Let’s divide and conquer.

Step back and assess the area of your financial world that needs the most attention. Start with the area where the consequences can impact you the most.

Behind in your taxes?

Give yourself a deadline to either complete them or pay someone to do them. Uncle Sam is not your real Uncle. The IRS has a long reach. You don’t want to feel those fingers in your bank account.

Overwhelmed with credit card debt?

You may not want to look at that statement but reality is the beginning of any solution. If you have credit cards with debt, roll them onto cards that have zero interest rates if possible. Credit not strong enough for that? Pay off the cards with highest interest rates first. Make a plan. Double up on payments on that card until it is paid off. The minimum payment is a pitfall. It is designed to keep you in debt. You will never get out of credit card debt paying the minimum payment. I know you know all of this already.

This is just a friendly reminder that you can do this. You can reach your financial goals one step at a time. Encourage yourself as you make progress. Be your friend. You can do it with a plan and a structure that includes celebrating along the way. This is a game worth playing and a game you can win.

Now that would be thrilling.