Life goals for your future self

When the year 2030 rolls around, you’ll be 8 years older. Have you ever imagined your future self? Let’s paint a picture of future you. 

Try to envision what you look like, what you’re wearing or where you live in your 20s. Think about your life goals — what are you aiming for? Use this checklist. Check off anything you’d like to achieve by then.

We’re here to cheer you on — because you can do it! With our Future You series, you will gain money skills to be financially confident and independent. When the time comes, you’ll be glad present you started thinking about future you. Read on to find out how. 

Your dreams

Start with the items you picked from the financial wellness list above. Now think even bigger. Do you already know your career interests? Great! Write them down. What about your lifestyle? Not only the higher cost considerations, like where you want to live and the transportation you want to use, but your everyday life. That’s your spending on needs and your most important wants. Your plan begins with writing down ideas about your career, your money and your life.

… Translated to goals 

Goals get you from where you are now to where you want to be in the future. Think about someone you admire, like an entrepreneur or celebrity or athlete. They didn’t just wake up one day with all their accomplishments, suddenly able to afford the money lifestyle they wanted. Goals give us direction, like a roadmap. Goals help us measure our progress. 

= The plan!

Now comes your action plan! Setting goals takes practice, and there’s a well-known strategy that helps make goals effective. And successful. For a goal to be smart it must be S.M.A.R.T.

• S. Specific. With lots of detail.

• M. Measurable. Broken down into steps

• A. Achievable. It’s got to be in the realm of possibility!

• R. Relevant. Is this what’s most important for you?

• T. Time-bound. Add your deadline! 

This is just the beginning 

You’ll want to build a long-term financial plan to make sure you can afford the lifestyle you want. What you don’t want is to run out of money after you stop working. Ready to read more about goals? Get S.M.A.R.T. 

Speaking of future you, stick around for our series. Up next: What you can do now to start working toward the career of your dreams. For now, quiz yourself about Life Goals on Kahoot!