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"I am committed to making financial decisions that align with my goals."
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We hope your week is off to a great start! Today, we're looking at:
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Did You Know?
___% of people who set financial goals have improved feelings about money after just one year.
Scroll for the answer!
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Financial Self-Care Practices To Help Set Yourself Up for Success in the Future
Finances and money can be an overwhelming topic — but they don't have to be!
Regardless of what your financial situation is, there are steps we can all take to help ourselves have more peace with money in the future!
Financial self-care is a key pillar of our well-being that we may forget — but it's so important!
This can include small acts of care, like building a savings account or taking a large step, like aiming for early retirement.
Here are a few ideas of some financial self-care practices you can try:
1. Build an emergency fund.
2. Save for retirement.
3. Pay off debt.
4. Keep a budget.
5. Job hop or take on a side hustle to boost your income.
6. Live within your means.
7. Try a no-spend week or month regularly.
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How To Set Financial Goals
Setting financial goals is a great way to practice financial self-care in a way that's personal to you.
They can help you feel a sense of accomplishment and empowerment toward your finances.
Plus, they're great acts of self-care that can help improve your overall wellbeing!
One great way to do this is to set "SMART" goals.
This stands for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
An example of a SMART financial goal would be to save $3,000 in an emergency fund by the end of the year.
With 8 months left in the year, you could plan to set aside $375 a month. Or, you could save larger chunks of money over a few dedicated months—like this May, many people will receive an extra paycheck as there are three Fridays. So, you could plan to set aside most of that check and dedicate it to an emergency fund.
When deciding your financial goals:
- List out your priorities: Is it saving for something? Do you want to pay off debt? Perhaps you want to create and follow a budget.
- Make a plan that suits you: Define what steps you need to take and what that looks like.
- Check-in— but don't be too hard on yourself: Every week, few weeks, or month, set aside time to check in with your goals and see if you need to adjust them. Finances can be tricky — especially if something unexpected comes up — so don't be too hard on yourself if you need to shift your plan or timeline!
Remember that any progress is good progress, and it's all for the benefit of self-care!
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5 Self-Care Tips Inspired By Nature
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Forest Bathing: Immerse yourself in nature, breathe in the fresh air, listen to the sounds of birds, and observe the beauty around you. Let nature soothe your mind, reduce stress, and promote calmness and inner peace.
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Sunrise Meditation: Wake up early to witness a sunrise, find a quiet spot outdoors, and practice mindfulness as the sun rises. Focus on the warmth of the sun, let go of worries, and embrace the serenity of the moment.
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Nature Walks: Take regular leisurely walks in natural settings, paying attention to the sights, sounds, and smells around you. Allow yourself to fully immerse in nature, clear your mind, reduce stress, and improve your mood.
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Wilderness Retreats: Unplug from technology and retreat to a wilderness area for a few days of solitude and reflection. Disconnect from the outside world, connect with yourself, and find inner peace amidst the tranquility of nature.
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Nature-inspired Self-care Products: Incorporate natural ingredients like essential oils and botanical extracts into your self-care routine. Indulge in soothing baths, pamper your skin with nourishing oils, and create a spa-like atmosphere at home with calming scents like lavender or eucalyptus.
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Fuel Your Body Naturally with NativePath
Collagen is essential for healthy skin, joints, and bones, but most collagen supplements on the market are made from animal byproducts and contain artificial ingredients.
At NativePath, they believe in sourcing only the best ingredients for their products, and that’s why they offer a collagen powder that’s truly native—or as close to nature as humanly possible.
Why You'll Love It:
- Full of Benefits: Each scoop delivers 10g of collagen for comprehensive support for your bones, joints, hair, skin, and nails.
- Type 1 and Type 3 Collagen: Made of the essential collagen types, making up over 90% of what your body needs for optimal wellbeing.
- Certified Grass-Fed and Pure: Their collagen comes from 100% happy, healthy, pasture-raised cows ensuring the highest quality without any growth hormones.
- Flavorless, Odorless, and Clump-Free: Formulated for a seamless mixing experience, their unflavored collagen, effortlessly dissolving in your favorite beverage. Carefully crafted from high-quality ingredients, this collagen offers a delightful taste that will leave you wanting more. With just two scoops a day, you'll fuel your day with a remarkable 20 grams of protein, providing the energy you need to conquer life at your best.
Embrace the pure power of nature with NativePath and embark on a journey to a healthier, more vibrant you.
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Thank you to NativePath for sponsoring Note To Self.
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How To Keep Track of Financial Goals
When setting financial goals, you want to be able to monitor progress.
How much have you saved in your sinking fund? How much more do you need to contribute to your retirement by the end of the year?
Here are a few ways we love to track our finances:
- Use a spreadsheet: You can create your own, or there are tons of templates you can find online that help you track progress.
- A visual tracker: These trackers often use "bars" where you fill in sections each time you reach a milestone toward a goal. For example, if you want to save $1,000 for a vacation fund, each time you set aside $100, you could color in 1/10 of the bar. Once you've hit $1,000, the bar will be filled! You can do this with pen and markers or in an online format.
- Create "buckets" and allocate your money: If you're saving for different goals or working to pay off different debts, designate where you're going to send funds. Using different accounts for different savings goals can help you keep track of how much progress you've made.
- Apps: There are so many budgeting apps that help measure your progress toward financial goals. Many can be easily linked to a bank account, credit card, and loans, so you don't have to do any of the math yourself.
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Hands Down Some of the Best Credit Cards for Balance Transfers
Did you know some credit cards can actually help you get out of debt faster?
Yes, it sounds crazy. But it’s true. The secret: Find a card with a “0% intro APR" period for balance transfers. Then, transfer your debt balance and pay it down as much as possible during the intro period. No interest means you could pay off the debt faster.
Check out the full list of cards you can use to do this here.
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Thank you to FinanceBuzz for sponsoring Note To Self.
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Parting Thoughts:
- Did You Know: 83%! This just shows the power that financial goals can have on your well-being!
- 🏼♀️ Snapshot Of The Day: We'd love to see moments from our readers lives that they are proud of! If you recently accomplished an achievement, experienced a joyful moment, or are proud of a picture you have taken, be sure to capture it on camera and send it to us for a chance to be featured next week!
- Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: This week, see if you can identify one or two ways to help your financial future!
- Low-Waste Grocery Shopping Tips: Heading to the grocery store soon? Let's make it a green trip! Even if your local market is a sea of plastic packaging, there are simple ways to reduce your waste footprint! Let’s dive right in...
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Share the love
Know a fellow self-care lover who would benefit from joining the Note To Self Community? Forward this email or refer them at readnotetoself.com!
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Know of a great self-care tip or article you'd love to share with the community? Want to send us pictures of you completing one of your self-care rituals? Email us at care@readnotetoself.com!
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