How About Changing Your “To Do” List to a “Ta-da!” List

I am a fan of national theme months, of which we have many in this country, so of course I love Financial Literacy Month in April every year. But I’m also realistic enough to know that most of the themes are best practiced all year long, whether they are health related, money related, or otherwise. So in honor of that concept, I want to share some practical financial tips and tools that can and should be acted on all year round in case you missed learning or implementing something you read or experienced this past April.

Knowledge is Only the Beginning

Knowledge is part of the required first steps to improve anything in life but knowledge without taking action on that learning is not impactful at all. How many people do you know that talk a good game, perhaps about a lot of things, but then rarely ever act on those ideas? Anything that requires inertia and intentional effort, often gets left undone until it becomes an emergency. Either overwhelm or analysis paralysis often gets in the way. All of which is why I am a true believer in the value of checklists.

To Do to Ta-da!

You know the drill. You write it down, break the actions into smaller doable steps, check them off as you accomplish them and successfully accomplish what you set out to do. That is unless another shiny penny or squirrel (aka life) distracted you away! Maybe we need a mindset shift. What if we create a To Do list with the goal of feeling “Ta-da!” at the bottom of the list, complete with a reward to cement the “ta-da!” feeling? Maybe that approach would help us get to the bottom of the list?

Checklist Bundles

That was my mindset when I created Money Checklist Bundles – checklists for the various phases we go through in life. Whether we are just starting out on our own, getting married, having a family, empty nesters, headed to retirement, or shifting gears after a relationship change… practical guidance to stay ahead financially can be really helpful. Each bundle boils the main steps down to a checklist of 10 things to do (before and after the life event) and then also embellishes your options to plan and get your financial house in order with dozens of additional checklists. Who wouldn’t want to feel “Ta-da!” at every life stage?

Money in Motion

In the financial services industry, we often refer to these stages as “money in motion” times of life. Something happening financially is often the reason that people finally do something about improving their financial situation. Maybe they are changing or leaving jobs and now there is 401k paperwork to deal with. Maybe there are big expenses coming up (college, wedding, home purchase) to figure out how to fund. Maybe the family is growing or shrinking in size or relocating or upsizing or downsizing which are all financial changes that require some money in motion.

Crisis to Calm

But like most things in life, changes you can anticipate, prepare for, and have decided in advance what you will do if they happen are much less stressful than unexpected events. That’s why it helps to have a Before and After checklist. Turning potential crisis times into calm coordination is definitely a Ta-da! feeling everyone would welcome.

Your Sponge Days

It helps to remember that how you feel about money today, make financial decisions today, and spend or save today were imprinted in you during your childhood. You were a sponge absorbing whatever your environment was dishing out. You may have experienced role model behavior or trauma or everything in between. Your childhood may have made things harder or easier for you today from a financial personality standpoint. But acknowledging that childhood experience is the first step toward moving forward financially.

New Learning

Sometimes our financial To Do tasks are familiar and other times they require new learning. Learning something new may sound challenging, frustrating, or scary. Remember, new learning is like taking our brain to the gym so think of it like another adventure that is really good for you in several ways. Your mind is in charge of your brain so don’t let the brain get stuck in negative, fearful thinking. You are seeking the Ta-da! feeling but you can’t get there if you don’t expect it from the beginning.

Enjoy and Celebrate

No matter what life stage or To Do list you are working on, financially or otherwise, my last experience tip is to try to enjoy the journey and feel good about checking off the tasks even if you don’t complete all of them. In the process, you should feel more financial confidence and stability. And anything you complete is more than you had done before. So celebrate your Ta-da! since you are further ahead than before you started the list!

Let’s Chat:

What checklist is most calling your name right now? How have the life events you have experienced impacted your money habits today? Any “Ta-da!” steps that have been most impactful for you? Let’s have a discussion.