Are you ready to finally take control of your finances this year? If so, you’re in the right place! This seven-day Fresh Finance Challenge is packed with simple, actionable steps that’ll help you reflect on the past, reset your money mindset, and set yourself up for success in the year ahead. Whether you want to save more, cut back on spending, or just feel more confident with your money, this challenge is for YOU. So, grab a pen and some paper and let’s get started on this financial reflection challenge.
Links for This Episode
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Podcast Episode Recommendations
- #31: So You Can’t Afford Christmas This Year, Now What?
- #21: So You Failed in Your Monthly Budget, Now What?
- #10: How to Avoid the Comparison Trap with Your Finances
- #2: So You’ve Hit Rock Bottom, Now What?
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Fresh Finance Challenge #1: What Did We Learn This Year?
Well hey there and welcome back to the Financial Fix Up Podcast. I’m your host, Sarah Brumley, and today is Day 1 of our Fresh Finance Challenge that I have designed to help us close out our current year and enter the New Year ready to conquer our financial goals. This is a seven day challenge and if you are listening in real time and you do the math, you’ll realize that the seventh day will actually be January 1st, so we will finish off strong that day.
And before you think, golly, my kids are home and my in-laws are still in town, and how will I ever have time to participate in seven days worth of challenges, not to worry. I’ve made these short and to the point so that you can complete them within 10-15 minutes each and then get back to your regularly scheduled activities. So, even if you have to sneak away and use the bathroom sink as your workstation, I have complete faith that you can knock these out and be thanking yourself come January 1st.
So, without further ado, we’re kicking off our challenge with something we don’t always think about – reflection. And I know, it doesn’t sound super exciting, but trust me, it’s way more powerful than it seems. Before we jump into planning for the next year, it’s really helpful to take a moment and think about what worked and what didn’t. The goal here is simply to learn from the past so we can make more intentional decisions going forward.
Take Time for a Financial Reflection Challenge
So, why do we reflect? Well, life gets busy and it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day hustle without noticing the patterns we’ve fallen into – and those can be good and bad patterns, right? Sometimes, we don’t realize that a small change, like making coffee at home instead of grabbing it every morning, can add up to big savings. Or maybe we don’t realize we’ve been overspending in certain areas until we take a moment to stop and think about it.
So, here’s where you can start: grab a notebook or your phone, and ask yourself the following questions (and yes, I’m asking myself these, as well!).
- What financial habits really worked for me this year?
- Where did I tend to overspend or get off track?
- Were there any unexpected expenses I could have prepared for better?
These might seem simple, but trust me, they’ll give you some really valuable insight and you might even be surprised by the things that come up once you actually stop to reflect on them. It’s all about getting clear on where you are now, so you can move forward with more purpose.
Embrace Gratitude
And here’s the best part – you get the opportunity to celebrate yourself! Reflection isn’t just about looking at all that went wrong. It’s also about recognizing the things you did right, too. Even those small wins, like paying off more debt than you thought you could, or sticking to a budget for a couple of months, or keeping your expenses under your income rather than using your credit cards – those all count! Take a minute to appreciate those wins, big or small. They all add up and they matter!
Take Action: What Did You Learn This Year?
Okay, so here’s your first action step for today: Write down one financial habit you’re really proud of and one that you’d like to change. Keep it simple! No need to overthink it – just choose one thing that stands out to you. And it might seem silly, but I promise that this little exercise will help set the stage for what’s coming next in our challenge so don’t skip it, okay?
Keep on Reflecting
And there you have it – day 1 of the Fresh Finance Challenge. That wasn’t too tough, right? Hehe. Just remember this isn’t about being perfect – it’s about making small, intentional changes that will set you up for success. Celebrate those wins, keep reflecting, and learn from what you can.
I’m so excited to continue this challenge with you, so make sure to click subscribe if you haven’t already. And if you want more tips and tricks on finance and home management, you can join our community at lemonblessings.com/news.
Whatever you decide, just know that I’m cheering you on! You’ve got this! Have an amazing day and I’ll chat with you again tomorrow!
