Achieving your financial dreams is simpler than you think.  For my son it started on a trip to the local comic book store.  He was amazed at the number of cool things it had.  I was fortunate that he knew better than to ask me to purchase just anything he laid his eyes on. There was however one thing that really captured his attention — a Captain America Winter Soldier Action Figure.

I told him he would have to raise the money himself and he could not put all his allowance into his “fun” jar. He would still have to allot a portion to his savings, education and charity jars. To raise extra money he agreed to do additional chores.  Judging by the look in his eyes, I could tell that he really wanted that action figure!

Here’s how he did it:

1)   Know What You Want To Achieve Financially.  Some people may want to purchase a house; others a car or even a big screen television.  For my son, all he wanted was a Captain America Action Figure priced at $26.00.

2)   Set Out A Plan To Achieve Your Financial Goal(s). Once you have identified what you want to achieve and the actual dollar amount you need to generate, it is now time to work on how you will achieve it. To get the Captain America Action Figure, my son agreed to do many chores consistently for over the next few months.  What could you do to earn extra money (e.g. get a part-time job; sell some of your belongings that you don’t use, etc.)?

3)   Be Patient And Work Your Plan: Once you have created your plan stick to it like my son did.  He knew it would take time and he continued to do additional chores for about a month without complaining. He first started by pulling weeds in our front and backyard, then he started cleaning various areas of the house. It was hard work but I was proud of his eagerness to get it done.  Every time he contributed to his “fun” saving jar, which was now dedicated to Captain America, we would count how much money he had and identify how much more he needed to achieve his financial dream.

4)   Always Look For A Better Deal: You don’t have to pay the first price you see; other places may have your item cheaper or offer you a better incentive package. Don’t be afraid to shop around.  As my son continued to work on his financial goal we often journeyed to other stores in search of one that would offer him better value for his money. Our research paid off; for the price we found a bigger version of the Captain America Action Figure at one of the Disney stores and this one could hurl his shield with the slight twist of his arm. Naturally we decided to take our business there.

5)   Take Advantage of Financial Freebies: They say the best things in life are free. For example, if you belong to a company pension plan, take advantage of the additional top-up they are offering and make sure that you contribute at least up to the maximum amount your company is willing to match. Monetary gifts from family or friends can also contribute to your financial dream. In the case of my son, his financial freebie was his grandmother giving him $5.00 to contribute to the Captain America fund. 

Achieving one’s financial dreams is a goal most people strive for but few attain. I am happy to say that my son achieved his financial goal last weekend after working at it for almost a month and a half. The victory was even sweeter when he realised he got the last, shield-throwing Captain America Action Figure on the shelf!

Attaining your financial dreams may not necessarily be quick or easy, but it is very much achievable if you understand your priorities, set achievable goals, take the proper steps toward reaching them and have the patience to continually work at it.