built your financial landscape

On your journal's first page write [your name] Life Goals. On the next page or two begin with writing down life goals on each line of the page. Include activities like buying a new car, buying a home, getting a specific type of dog, marriage, establishing a budget, if you don't already have one, and any other goals that are relevant to your life. Don't put more than one life goal on each line. Don't give it much thought, at first. Just jot down each one as it comes to mind.

Now, you're going to review the life goals you just jotted down, and put them in chronological order on a new page in your journal. Date it at the top. This time, you want to put a lot of thought into the timeline you want these goals achieved. On a fresh page, arrange your life goals in a chronological order that makes the most sense. Again, put only one life goal on each line.

Next, you need to determine how much money you will spend on each. This will give you a basis for planning each event in your life. Add the cost beside each of the corresponding life goals. Primary to all financial planning is a written budget. You have to have a detailed portrait of your finances to understand how to effectively plan for life events.

In your financial journal, place a new entry that identifies all your expenses in one section and all your income in another. Subtract your expenses from your income. What is left is what you have to work with for savings. Determine when you want to have the cash to pay for your next big purchase and plan the savings accordingly.

If you want to have a down payment for a car in one year, determine how much you need to save in that one year, divide that amount by your number of paychecks, then begin to save that amount for the next year. Document your journey in your journal as to how the process is working for you. Do this for each and every purchase you anticipate in life, and you'll find that you are far less stressed than you ever would have believed possible.

Sherry Zander is a freelance writer who writes for several company websites. Subjects on which she writes include, but are not limited to, personal finance, real estate, estate planning, women's issues, health and a multitude of other subjects.

If you are in need of a freelance writer for articles, blogs, reports, e-books, press releases and anything else you need written, Sherry is the one who can get it done.