SHORT-TERM GOALS

This week, a young friend, Jesse, is getting to go see Clay Aiken in Spamalot, on Broadway.

She wanted to go see Spamalot, but her family thought she was just a bit too young to fully appreciate the musical. So she made a deal with them - she gets to go if she can raise the money for her ticket. Her aunt agreed, not imagining that she could get that much money. But she did it, by determinedly doing chores for friends and family.

Now, that's the power of having a goal.

There are two types of goals that we should plan for - short-term goals (like a computer) and long-term goals (like college).

Let's start with short-term goals for now:

1. Set your goal. Think about what you need or want in the near-term, for example, a mobile phone, a computer, or maybe that latest Paramore CD. Or set a goal to get something for someone else. For example, if you know that your brother would love to have an MP3 player for his birthday, why not make that your goal?

2. Figure out how much more you can save each week if you cut out some non-essentials from your usual spending (like snacks and small knick-knacks). Don't dip into the amount you're already setting aside as your Savings -- that can go towards your long-term goal(s).

3. Set a date for achieving your goal, a date not more than three months away.

4. Develop a plan to reach your goal. Will the amount you save each week from cutting out on non-essential spending be sufficient for you to reach your goal? If not, perhaps you can earn some money -- tutor someone younger than yourself, babysit, do various chores for friends and family, run a lemonade stand, etc. If you're old enough, you may want to get a part-time or weekend job.

4. Keep to your plan. Sounds simple, doesn't it? But it's so easy to give up halfway. To motivate yourself, visualise your goal in your mind every time you're tempted to give up.