And all those experts who advise skipping out on small pleasures, like your daily latte or avocado toast, might be missing the mark. “The whole idea of rice and beans, beans and rice is cool in theory, but it’s just not realistic,” says financial expert Aja Dang on a recent episode of the Money Confidential podcast. Dang burned out on the savings front after scrimping to pay off credit cards, a car loan, and a student loan. “I didn’t feel excited about everything that I had accomplished, so what I started to do was put aside money to treat myself—like a really nice dinner, or my very first goal was laser hair removal.” Read the full Money Confidential transcript. {PDF} So how do you decide how to prioritize your financial goals when you have so many options, and some seem a little less exciting than others? Start with these tips. So if brunch with friends on the weekend is essential for feeling good, carve out a small amount of your budget for it. Just don’t go overboard—you don’t want to justify every potential expense and end up not achieving any financial goals. “I have worked with hundreds of people trying to pay off credit card debt who will pay a little extra on each card every month rather than put all their extra money towards one card at a time,” says Lauren Anastasio, CFP and director of financial advice at Stash. “By choosing one priority and putting all of your energy towards it, you can stay focused and accomplish your goals sooner.” You might want to consider creating a vision board or making your screensaver something that keeps it top of mind—so your eyes are consistently on the prize.
