Financial Progress

YEAR-END ANALYSIS OF YOUR FINANCIAL PROGRESS

As you begin each New Year, I strongly suggest you have a financial review of your goals and last year’s results.
You and your spouse should ask yourselves three basic questions during your year-end summary:
1. Have we succeeded in saving anything significant during the last year?
2. Have we succeeded in paying off a significant portion of our debts?
3. How does our Financial Balance Sheet* regarding our net worth compare to last year?
If your answers to these three questions are positive, then you are moving in the right direction in your
financial life. However, if your answers are negative, then you need to make some significant changes in your budget and debt-paying strategy.
It’s not true that your ability to achieve financial goals is controlled by outside forces or circumstances.
Other people or the economy can affect your economic life only in a relatively minor and temporary manner.
You are the only one who can affect your life in a major way. You can improve your own financial future by changing your attitudes, goals, and actions. Begin with your attitude, which should be characterized by a strong desire to succeed, a willingness to overcome obstacles, and an ability to continually analyze your plans and their results.
Next, begin to take control of your money by setting definite financial goals. These goals should be high enough to motivate you and your spouse, but they must also be realistic enough so that you truly believe that they are attainable. Finally, follow through with a set of balanced financial strategies based on the Word of God and a sound analysis of the special risks and opportunities in today’s economy.
Ask yourself, “If I achieve the same financial results in the next five years as I have during the past five years, will I be satisfied?”
If your answer to this question is no, you need to make a commitment today to changing your financial strategy.