Ah, if I had a million dollars! Sometimes, it is nice to dream. But the reality is that my family's income is far less than that and financial expenditures need to be planned for whenever possible. It is a good policy to periodically sit down with your financial records (and your spouse if you have one) to take a look at where you are and where you would like to be.
Balancing today's needs with tomorrow's dreams often feels like walking a tightrope. Yes, I need to save for my children's college expenses, but I also need to pay their Catholic School tuition today. I need to save for retirement but the car needs repairs this month. Setting up automatic savings programs which come directly out of your checking account or your paycheck can help make saving easier. You never see the money, therefore you can't spend it.
Sometimes, writing down your goals and posting them on your refrigerator can help make them more concrete and make saving for them a little easier. Forgoing going out to eat today in order to save $20 for a summer vacation may seem like a more reasonable trade-off when there is a sign right in front of you reminding you why you are saving.
Many people put off financial conversations because they are uncomfortable and can promote conflict between spouses, but in order to make good decisions you need to have a realistic picture of both your current financial situation and your dreams for the future.
