Saving
Save $1,000 for emergencies by the end of March
A small buffer stops a flat tyre or a vet bill going on the credit card. It's the best first money goal.
First stepOpen a separate savings account and name it "Emergencies".
Goal examples · For you
Financial goals examples with a weekly step
These financial goals examples are for everyday money: building a buffer, clearing a card, spending less on the things that leak and earning a bit more. A money goal works when it has an amount, a date and a step you can take this week, like a transfer on payday.
Each one is a SMART goal. Change the amounts to fit your pay, then work out the weekly step: the amount divided by the weeks you have. See Money goals in weekly steps for how. These are examples to adapt, not financial advice.
Show
Saving goals
Saving goals are easier when the money moves on its own. Set up the transfer for payday, and the goal is mostly about not touching it.
6 examplesSaving
Build three months of expenses in an emergency fund by December
Once the first $1,000 is there, this is the bigger version. Work out your monthly costs first so the target is real.
First stepAdd up one month of rent, bills, food and transport.
Saving
Save $3,000 for a holiday by September
A trip with a date is easy to save for, because you can see it getting closer.
First stepDivide $3,000 by the weeks until you go and set up that weekly transfer.
Saving
Save $50 a week for 52 weeks
A weekly amount is simpler to stick to than a big total. At the end of the year it's $2,600.
First stepSet up an automatic $50 transfer for the day after payday.
Saving
Put every tax refund and bonus straight into savings this year
Money you weren't counting on is the easiest to save, because you never get used to spending it.
First stepWrite down what you'd normally spend it on, so you know what you're choosing.
Saving
Save $10,000 towards a house deposit by the end of next year
A big goal like this needs a weekly number. At this size, it's about $96 a week over two years.
First stepFind out the deposit you'd need and what the weekly amount would be.
Debt goals
Debt goals are about paying more than the minimum, on a date. Pick one debt to focus on at a time, and keep paying the minimum on the rest.
5 examplesDebt
Pay off the $3,200 credit card by the end of May
One card, one date. Seeing the balance go down each month is what keeps it going.
First stepLook up the balance and interest rate today.
Debt
Pay an extra $100 a month on the car loan this year
An extra repayment cuts the interest and the time. Check first that your loan allows it.
First stepAsk the lender whether extra repayments have any fees.
Debt
Clear the buy now, pay later balances by the end of next month
Small instalments are easy to lose track of. Clearing them all gives you a clean start.
First stepList every plan still open and the amount left on each.
Debt
Pay off the smallest debt first, then roll that payment into the next
Clearing one debt fast feels good, and rolling the payment into the next debt keeps the momentum.
First stepList your debts from smallest to biggest balance.
Debt
Not add anything new to the credit card for three months
You can't pay off a card while it's still filling up. Three months is long enough to change the habit.
First stepTake the card out of your wallet and phone payments.
Spending goals
Spending goals are about the money that leaks out without you deciding. Choose one area and put a number on it.
5 examplesSpending
Spend no more than $150 a month on takeaway and eating out
A monthly limit is easier than "eat out less". Track it weekly so the end of the month isn't a surprise.
First stepCheck last month's bank statement for what you actually spent.
Spending
Cancel two subscriptions you don't use by the end of the week
Unused subscriptions are money for nothing. Two is a quick win.
First stepLook through your bank statement for every repeating payment.
Spending
Bring your own lunch to work four days a week this month
Lunches add up fast. Four days leaves one for a lunch out with friends.
First stepBuy lunch boxes and plan next week's four lunches.
Spending
Have one no-spend weekend a month this year
A weekend with no spending shows how much of it was just habit, and it's often more fun than it sounds.
First stepPick this month's weekend and plan two free things to do.
Spending
Wait 48 hours before any purchase over $100
A short wait stops most impulse buys. If you still want it after two days, buy it.
First stepWrite the rule on a note on your phone's home screen.
Income goals
Income goals are often overlooked, but earning a bit more can move a money goal faster than cutting back.
4 examplesIncome
Sell $500 of things you don't use by the end of next month
Clutter you don't need is cash you haven't collected. It clears space too.
First stepPick ten things to sell and take the photos this weekend.
Income
Earn $300 a month from a side job by June
A side income gives the savings goals something extra to work with.
First stepWrite three things you could charge for, like tutoring, gardening or design.
Income
Ask for a pay review by the end of the quarter
A pay rise is worth more than most savings habits, and asking is fully in your control.
First stepWrite down three things you did this year that made a difference.
Income
Sell $6,000 of your craft or handmade work this year
For a hobby business, a sales target turns weekends at markets into a plan.
First stepBook your first two market stalls or set up your online shop.
Long-term money goals
Long-term goals are the slow ones. Give them a yearly number and a check-in date, so they don't drift.
5 examplesLong-term money
Put an extra 1% of your pay into retirement savings from next month
A small rise in what you put away is easy to forget about, and it adds up over years.
First stepCheck how much you put in now and how to change it.
Long-term money
Track your net worth on the first of every month for a year
Adding up what you own and owe once a month shows whether things are going the right way.
First stepList your accounts, savings and debts in one place today.
Long-term money
Read three books about money by the end of the year
Knowing more about money makes every other goal on this page easier to set well.
First stepPick the first book and set aside 20 minutes a night.
Long-term money
Set up a savings account for each child and add $20 a month
Small regular amounts become a real start for them, and it's a habit they can see.
First stepFind an account with no fees and open the first one.
Long-term money
Have a money check-in with your partner on the first Sunday of every month
A short regular talk keeps you on the same page and stops money turning into arguments.
First stepChoose the day and the three things you'll look at each time.
How to make them your own
An amount and a date.
"Save more" can't be tracked. "$1,000 by March" can.
Work out the weekly step.
Divide the amount by the weeks you have. If the number is too big, move the date, not the goal.
One debt at a time.
Put the extra money on one debt and pay the minimum on the rest.
Automate it.
A transfer that goes on payday works better than remembering.
Write down why.
A line about what the money is for keeps you going when the weekly step feels small.
Count every step.
Tick off each deposit or payment, so you can see the gap close.
Questions people ask
What are financial goals?
Financial goals are plans for your money with an amount and a date: saving for something, paying off a debt, spending less in one area or earning more. They work best broken down into a weekly or payday step.
What are good financial goals to start with?
An emergency fund of $1,000 is the most common first goal, because it stops small surprises becoming new debt. After that, paying off the most expensive debt and saving for one thing you care about are good next steps.
How do I set a financial goal?
Pick the amount and the date, then divide to get the weekly step. Check the step fits your pay, set up a transfer for payday, and track it each week. Money goals in weekly steps walks through it.
Should I save or pay off debt first?
Many people build a small emergency fund first, then put extra money on their most expensive debt. What's right depends on your situation, so for big decisions talk to a qualified financial adviser.
Is this financial advice?
No. These are examples to help you set and track your own goals. For decisions about investing, retirement or large debts, talk to a qualified adviser.
In Lifetick
In Lifetick, a money goal measures progress in dollars. Choose save money, pay off debt or hit a sales target, enter the amount, and give each task its own amount, like a $96 weekly transfer. Tick it off and the goal shows how much you've reached and how much is left.
A Savings tracker charts what you put aside week by week. Money goals and trackers come with Premium. Lifetick doesn't connect to your bank: it's for the goal and the steps, not your budget. See Set a money goal and Create a tracker and log values.
For more on tracking savings and debt, see the money goal tracker and Lifetick for you.
Do it in LifetickSet a money goalTrack savings, debt paid off or a sales target in dollars, with tasks that add up to the amount. Money goals need Premium.Create a tracker and log valuesTrack anything you want to measure, like distance run, money saved or glasses of water, and log it in a tap. Trackers need Premium.
More goal examples
For teams
All goal examples
20 team goal examples
Twenty team goal examples for sales, support, operations and small business owners, each with a number, a date and a first step to take this week.
For teams20 performance goals examples
Twenty performance goals examples for staff and managers, each with a number, a date and a first step, so reviews talk about progress, not opinions.
For teams20 professional development goals
Twenty professional development goals examples for skills, study, leadership and career moves, each with a date and a first step for this week.
Start with one goal this week.
Lifetick is free on iPhone and the web, and five quick questions make it a SMART goal.
