I was asked the other day what my biggest lesson learned in 2018 was, and the answer to that was a pretty simple one:
I learned that I was doing a lot more THINKING than I was DOING.
With my goals, with my ideas, with small stupid things that would have only taken 20 minutes to test, etc. I was in my head over analyzing every little thought and paying more attention to the “what ifs” than the *realities*, until one day I finally had my epiphany.
So in the spirit of this, I challenge you to take out $50 from your account right now, and then apply it directly to a goal of yours that’s been driving you crazy. Whether in thought, or inaction!
Maybe it’s finally tackling that accumulated debt over the years, or making the move to invest in your first stock or business or index fund, or maybe it’s simply adding enough to that emergency fund to fully prepare you for that zombie apocalypse!
Whatever the goal, I encourage you to take that First Step and make it happen right now once and for all. No more pussyfooting around!!
(That’s right – I said pussyfooting!)
$50 might be a lot, but I can almost guarantee that you’ll survive just fine without it. And if it’ll absolutely break you, then send in $49 or $48 instead ;) It’s more about finally doing something about your goals and getting the ball rolling than the money itself.
If your goal requires spending more *time* on something than money, then I give you full permission to tackle that in its place instead! Go get that first budget or credit report going, or spend that 15 minutes to save 15% on your car insurance, or finally call your mom back who’s long overdue a “hello” and a “thanks” from you, because you know – SHE BROUGHT YOU INTO THIS WORLD!! (And can take you back out! Or at least that’s what my mom likes to threaten with… ;))
If you’ve been waiting for that “some day,” it’s finally here.
Make it happen and then report back!
******
Another thing I was asked about? What my favorite *books* from 2018 were… Here they are, courtesy of fellow reader Jarret who got me to spill ;) –> Atomic Habits by James Clear (a perfect companion to today’s post!), and The Year of Less by Cait Flanders – great for curating your life, but also about learning her deepest darkest secrets that she never revealed on her blog!
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This is how I sometimes get motivated to do a running or cycling race, just pay for it super early. Most races have registration open pretty far ahead of time. I’m pretty frugal, so once I commit the money I’ll usually train that much harder.
That’s an excellent idea!
I did this with the Detroit half-marathon in 2013. I was just managing 5ks, but once I signed up for that race and put my $75 down, I was in it for the long haul!
So I took the first step towards putting together estate planning. Tough first step, but I got the wheels moving and feel all the better for doing so. One step at a time is the best!
I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!
Argh! My car is quickly approaching time for new tires! I keep telling myself I’m waiting until spring….as if that’s going to make things any better. I just popped $50 into a little-used savings account & am going to continue doing that each week until I actually get the tires. That way, it won’t be such a nasty chore financially speaking :)
Perfect way to soften the blow more :)
And then when the weeks are over, I’m willing to bet you’ll already be used to it and can then maybe divert the $50 elsewhere? What a beauty that would be!
No pussyfooting and no tomfoolery people!
Our grandmas would be so proud of us :)
$50 is going toward chiropractic this afternoon, as we start tackling some long-standing alignment issues and make our health a bigger priority this year!
Funny how when you hit your 30s, you start being confronted by the very real choice of either cruising along or ramping it up with healthy habits!
Haha agreed… We’re certainly not getting any younger, despite our brains tricking us at times!
Normally I would take you up on this… but I am working for free at the moment until our government can figure itself out. I’ll set a calendar reminder to do this on my next day (whenever that happens to be).
But this is exactly why we keep an emergency fund!
Amen, man… This shut down is getting more ridiculous with each passing day.
It’s like when people want to start a running program and they join a couch-to-5K. They’re named that because the hardest part is getting off the couch!
Haha… excellent branding..
Yay! I needed this push!! I just put $50 into my Xmas Fund for next Christmas. I try to save $20/week for it. It’s so hard to start again in January when cash is tight, but wow is it ever a joy to have a little socked away when December rolls around. For all the gifts, plus all the extra fancy food, taxis, socializing. And roll around it does, every single year… It is way easier to pay for it all when I save a bit each month. Thanks J, for the kick in the pants!!
COOL!!! Makes the holidays so much more enjoyable, good for you :)
Done! $50 added to my “Professional Development” fund. When I went over my savings accounts yesterday I made a mental note to think about increasing contributions to that one so it will grow faster and I can tackle goals that are important to me (doctoral program, anyone?). This morning on the way to work I was moaning about how far away some of my goals seem at the moment. Then I read your post and boom! Moaning replaced by action. Thanks!
Glad to play my little part :)
And think a “professional development” fund is a super smart idea! One that is often overlooked and/or not believed to be of value, even though it’s right up there importance-wise! You’re gonna fair well in your doctoral studies ;)
Done! $50 to the fund for my new hobby: tennis. Won’t start lessons until it warms up in the spring.
You know what they say – tennis balls have a high rate of return! (Bah-dum-ching)
I put $50 into my index fund. It only bought me one more share, but every little bit helps!
SharesAreSexy.com
Signed up for my National Conference on my 0% credit card. $50 doesn’t quite cover the $2500 my employer won’t pay; however, education time and CEU credits are a safe-guard should I suddenly have the urge to change jobs or lose my current one. What a post J$; investing in myself and pushing to fulfill and secure my future! Thank you for day 9 of a fabulous new year.
Good job taking action in order to make it a great new year!! We’re just getting started! :)
Just went for an 11k run, after months of inactivity – time to get fit again while the sun is shining here in Australia!
(I’m a little bit sore…)
Wowwww how do you do that after months off??? I’m still building up to doing a few miles without keeling over, haha… Do you take rests in between or run straight through?
I am fully in! We are on track financially to be debt free (with exception of mortgage) by the end of this year. So instead of the $50, I invested my time in an idea I had to start a growth minded virtual group; to help encourage and support other growth minded individuals and hold each other accountable to growing towards our goals. It also provides a safe space for creatives to share ideas that they may be scared to share anywhere else. I have experienced the impact it has had on my life this past year of surrounding myself with motivated growth minded individuals, and I wondered if it may be possible to create a virtual group around this. So here goes nothing!
Thank you so much for your posts. I really enjoy them! Here is to great 2019!
Ps…one of my goals for this year is to consume less (research/analyze/plan), take action more. Win or learn, it’s time to stop researching the crap out of everything! lol
Haha I hear you on all of this!! More encouragement and less dicking around! Let’s do this! :)
We’re paying off our credit card debt this month and I just put an extra $50 onto it and we’re that much closer. Thanks for the extra motivation and here’s to being debt free :)
You da man.
While creating our January budget the other night, my husband and I agreed to add a $10/week “mad money” line item for each of us, so about $40/month. Some of this I’ll use for the occasional coffee stop or art supplies, but anything extra is going in my DSLR fund. I’ve wanted one since 2011, but just never seem to be able to justify spending $600-$800 when I’m trying to pay off student loans and build up savings. Here’s to saving for something that will bring me joy. :)
Love all of this!!! Excellent idea!!
I just used $150 from our HSA account to pay on a pesky medical bill from my husband’s tonsillectomy last year. It’s nowhere near being paid off, but it has been bugging me because he swore that we would hit our deductible and it would all be covered but he didn’t understand that we were still going to be charged 20% after the deductible until we meet our out of pocket maximum (which we were nowhere near). The surgery was to help his sleep apnea so it wasn’t exactly medically necessary but he no longer has to wear a CPAP, which is what he was hoping to happen from the surgery.
Bills, bills, bills…
Ugh, sorry to hear…
Is he at least happy with the outcome? And sleeping better now?
Many people would say that is priceless :)
Yeah, he snores a lot less now (hardly at all), so it did what it was meant to do. I just wish we could have planned ahead and saved up after he heard that a tonsillectomy was an option for sleep apnea.
I think for him, it was priceless because he has much better sleep. Even before he would subconsciously pull the CPAP mask off in his sleep so it was much better to not have to wear a machine, it just stinks how expensive medical needs can be :(
Totally :(
I’ve had the same purse and wallet since 2007 and haven’t saved a dime since! I just dropped 50 on a cash budgeting system wallet I’ve wanted FOREVER! Thanks for the inspiration!
Beautiful!!! Will you come back and let us know what you think of it after trying it for a while? Can’t say I’ve heard of many “budgeting wallets” before :)