Setting Goals and Planning

Making them SMART

Make Your Goals Specific

Specific – Fuzzy

• I want to have more money

– Precise• I will save $20 per week by reducing spending on

entertainment and clothing

Make your Goals Measurable

State what you want and when you want it.– If you want to save $100, and your goal was to

save $20/week, a reasonable completion date is 5 weeks.

Make your Goals Action-Oriented

Precisely how are you to achieve your goal?

Make your Goals Realistic

I can afford to save this money

Make your Goal Timely

Allow a reasonable time and set a deadline.– Too much time allows you to lose focus

It all adds up to SMART

Set Long Term andShort Term Goals

Long Term first– Five years from now– Personal development, lifestyle, school, career

Then Short Term– This semester– Personal life –get involved in a community

activity– Academic – don’t miss any classes

Develop a Plan of Action

Daily planner– Academic Goals– Calendar – monthly and weekly goals

• Code different course in different colors• Pencil makes it easier to change• Write down major exams, papers, and projects• Figure out how much time you will need for each

task• Make a copy of your calendar – one to carry to

class, one to post in your room

The Weekly Plan

What do I expect to accomplish? What must I do to reach my goals? What are the priorities of the tasks? How much time will each task take? When will I do each activity? How flexible can I be to allow for

unexpected things?

Monday

AM 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00PM 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00

Plan Actual

Financial Goals

Do you…– Balance your checkbook?– Use a financial program (Money, etc.)– Know how much school costs?– Have credit cards?

Account Basics

Overdraft Protection Linked Savings Minimum Balance Other features to ask about

– ATM, fees, students accounts, online banking

Budgeting

Be Real It all Counts Keep on Top of Things Add it Up

Plastic Intelligence Quotient Once you turn 25, credit card companies start rating you

on how you use credit.– FALSE

Credit card companies charge the same amount of interest for whatever you charge– FALSE

As long as you pay your full monthly balance, you won’t get charged any interest.– FALSE

If you lose your credit card, call the police right away.– FALSE

So Your in Over Your Head

Call your creditors!– Most will work out a payment plan

Focus– Eliminate “want to have” in favor of “have to

have”

Park the Plastic Consolidate What went wrong

Be Consistent and Persistent

Keep after your goals Look at obstacles as challenges

Monitor Your Progress

Use the weekly goals section to note your progress.

How to Beat Procrastination

Don’t wait to do the important tasks. – Start Now!

Reward yourself when you complete a task Work with and encourage others.

– Let them encourage you

Be in control. Just let the phone ring!