Let s say that your number one priority is to pay down your credit card debt faster, but you never seem to have any extra money to send in when the bill comes due. Take a look at your list of monthly expenses. Even half that amount will make a significant difference in the length of time it will take to get rid of that debt. Knowing how much you can earn or how much you can cut from your expenses will give you the information you need to estimate how long it will take to reach your goal. Achieving your goals will take time and unless you give yourself some positive feedback you might get discouraged and go back to your old habits.
Different things motivate different people.
Some may cut out a picture of the car they want to buy and tape it to the refrigerator so that whenever they see it, they feel good about the money they have saved for the down payment. Others may need a chart showing how much money has been saved each week. Still others may need someone to talk to about the progress that has been made. You will thank yourself when the last payment is made on the credit card or the new car is sitting in the driveway.