Big budget month day 31: stick to your goals

You've found ways to save money. Now you need to stick with it!

So by now you have probably found plenty of ways in which to save a few quid each month. Identifying those areas is just the easy bit, though. The tough part is sticking to your new budgeting methods, and not falling back into old, expensive habits.

So how do you stick to your goals?

Enjoy the success

It shouldn’t take too long for you to start seeing some evidence of your budgeting measures, in the form of a slightly healthier bank balance. Enjoy that success, indulge yourself in it.

Log onto MoneyTrack every couple of days so you can see exactly how much better your total financial position is looking.

Getting your finances in shape can be a long-term job, so enjoying the pigeon steps of progress should help keep you motivated. If need be, break your big goals down into a monthly saving target. You can even budget for a small treat each month to reward yourself when you hit that target!

Cut yourself some slack

There will be months when things don’t quite go to plan, when the money out column is a little bigger than you hoped. It happens. Don’t be too hard on yourself, just try to put it right the next month.

And don’t use a poor month or two as an excuse to give up entirely!

Tell other people

Don’t keep your savings plans to yourself. Tell your friends and family about them. That way you have people to talk to when it gets difficult, people who can support and cheer you on. They may even start doing something similar, so you can save together!

Triggers

Look at your past for triggers that create 'bad' behaviours. Is it that you don't make extra money because you attempt it when you're tired? In that case, plan to do it when you'll be more awake.

When you're stressed or busy, your plan can collapse. A flexible plan helps, but you must also be mentally prepared for these harder times.

Big picture

If all else fails, try to keep the big picture in mind. Go back to the goals themselves, remind yourself of why you are saving in the first place.

Whether it’s putting your child through University, becoming debt-free or buying your first home, if you can keep that goal in mind it makes it a bit easier if you’re having beans on toast for dinner rather than a takeaway pizza!