Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 12 Chapter 1 Financial Literacy Basics some type of career preparation program could be an important goal. This goal might motivate you to begin a savings program to pay for job training or higher education. You might also spend extra hours on homework in preparation for further education. Choosing a career is an important aspect of financial goals. Your career enables you to earn an income and live a life that you choose. To do goals cover the endless list of things you might want to accomplish. You may want to learn to play the piano or speak a foreign language. You may want to go to college, travel, or get a job as soon as possible. You may want to see a particular movie or make the basketball team. These are all to do goals. Many of these goals require money, which will influence your financial planning. To have goals are easy to identify and continually change. You may want to have a new watch, some new clothes, a car, a smartphone, or concert tickets. These goals also include the endless list of routine purchases, such as socks and toothpaste. They may include costly items for which you need to plan and save. No one has the resources to reach all of his or her goals at one time. You can get the most from your resources by planning how and when to use them. This will help you gain more control over your life and achieve the goals most important to you as early as possible. It is helpful to identify your goals and to rank them in order of importance. This helps direct time, energy, and money to the goals that are most important to you. As you set and rank your goals, ask yourself the following key questions. • Is the goal realistic and possible? Goals should be realistic in order for them to be met. Getting perfect grades is a realistic goal for some, not for others. Buying a car in two years is possible for some, but not for everyone. The important thing is not to let the impossible stand in the way of the possible. • Can I break big goals into smaller pieces? Many goals, especially medium- and long-term goals, can be challenging. Tackle them by breaking them down into smaller, more- achievable goals. For example, saving $500 for summer camp may sound impossible. There are only five months until the money is due. However, you can focus on the smaller goal of saving $100 each month or even $25 each week. • Can I measure my progress? Progress toward a goal should be measurable in dollars, grades, hours, points, or something specific. Otherwise, you do not know how well you are doing. For example, if your goal is to get an A in a class this semester, measure your progress weekly by tracking your grades for homework, quizzes, and exams. If your goal is to buy something, such as a laptop computer, measure your progress by the number of dollars you save. Seeing progress motivates you to continue working hard. Bullstar/Shutterstock.com A library is an example of a nonhuman resource that is available at no charge to the community.