7 Your Money Mantra Quotes From The Financial Gym Trainers

The end of the year is a great time to reflect on your finances and you’ve interacted with money — whether in healthy or unhealthy ways. To help you define your 2020 money mantra, the team at The Gym offered their top suggestions going into the new year.

1. Prioritize savings

“Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving — saving comes first! It is not an afterthought.” - Beca Soto, Certified Financial Trainer

Having money tucked away for the unexpected is the first step in financial preparedness. This can be tough to accomplish, however, when credit card debt immediately claims a chunk of your income each month. And after the shopping season, you may realize that the holiday debt hangover is a real phenomenon.

But saving money doesn’t have to be painful or complicated. Simply automating your savings can breathe life into an empty emergency fund. What’s even better is that when you automatically put money aside — before it reaches your “spending account” (i.e. checking account) — you may not even notice the missing cash. Start small by saving $25 or $50 per month to see how it feels to save money.  

2. One goal at a time

“You can have everything you deserve, just not at the same time. It's perfectly fine to prioritize some goals first, and other goals later. It doesn't mean that they aren't important.” - Samantha Ghanie, Certified Financial Trainer

Setting financial goals can help give your journey focus and purpose. Setting too many goals at one time, however, can be overwhelming and even discourage you from getting started. You can accomplish your dream life, one goal at a time.

To figure out which goal to prioritize, consider how you want to approach it. Decide whether you want to reach for low-hanging fruit, such as going on a month-long spending freeze, or if you want to start with a bigger goal, like paying off your six-figure student loan debt. If you need help, a financial coach can work with you on your next big goal.

3. Invest in yourself

"You work hard for your money, now make your money work hard for you." - Jenny Harp, Certified Financial Trainer

You’ve put in the time to earn your money, but are you making money moves that’ll set your future-self up for financial security? If don’t have a retirement savings account in place, ask your employer about its sponsored retirement plans, like a 401(k) fund. Some companies encourage its employees to save for retirement by offering a contribution match — this is free money on the table so carpe diem!  

If your employer doesn’t offer a retirement plan or you’re self-employed, consider opening an Individual Retirement Account through an online broker, like Betterment, or your local bank or credit union.

4. Reframe your perspective

“Money is just a tool. A lot of emotion goes along with money, but if we remove our emotional attachment and reframe our view to see money as just a tool, the same way we see a hammer and nails, then there's no limit to what we can do and build with it.” - Kadri Augustin, Certified Financial Trainer

Money and the material things it can afford you don’t define who you are. When faced with an emotionally charged financial decision or perception, give yourself permission to step back and ask yourself how it serves you.

As our trainer, Kadri, says, money is a tool that you can use to lay the groundwork toward the future you want. If you consistently use the tools within your reach to work toward it, you’ll get closer to your goal, sooner or later.

5. Remember your values

“How you spend your money is how you spend your life, so don’t spend money on things you don’t value.” - Terri Bennett, Certified Financial Trainer

Everyone has a set of values that’s unique to them, but sometimes it’s easy to put money toward items or goods that don’t support our truest values. 

For example, one person might value self-care so spending $50 to use amenities at a day spa every month might be a way to support that value. Conversely, you might value quality time with your aging parents and choose to budget $50 per month to take them out to a monthly brunch. No matter what your values are, lean into your core values so you’re mindfully (not mindlessly) spending.

6. Have faith

“Trust the process.” - Tai Wiggins, Head of Business Development

Just like with exercise, results don’t happen overnight when it comes to reaching personal goals. And during the journey, self-doubt might creep in but don’t give into it. Trust the financial plan you’ve set yourself along and be gentle with yourself. 

You might have missteps along the way, but that’s all part of the learning process. 

7. It’s not the end of the world

“Everything is fixable! I ‘stole’ this mantra from Shannon, but for me, it rings the most true. There's not a financial situation that we can't improve or a habit that we can't change. There is endless hope!” - Victoria Sechrist, Certified Financial Trainer

If your financial goals are derailed for a week or a month or even a few months, it’s O.K. There’s no rule that says you can’t dust yourself off and pick up where you left off. This new year, remember you can course-correct if the game plan doesn’t work out exactly as you imagined.