Turning intentions into habits

With the best intentions, we’re all guilty of having set ourselves goals that we then deprioritise because life got in the way, and this is especially true when it comes to money.

At Salary Finance we are passionate about helping people be better with money, and want to help make money simple so that it’s easier to create financial habits that last.

So what does it take to make an intention into a habit? 

Work out they why

Why do you want to improve your finances? Do you have something special to save up for? Are you planning that trip of a lifetime? Writing down the intentions and the reasons can help to motivate you.

Remember to remember 

Are there certain times of day you usually spend unnecessarily? That afternoon coffee or sugar craving? Set yourselves signals - maybe on your phone - to help remind you of your goal and keep you on track.

Small steps 

Don’t try and jump in the deep end and cut back on all expenditure. New habits thrive on convenience so you need to make sure that your new choices don’t mean you’re trying too much too soon. Being organised can enable you to make the little changes and keep temptation at bay.

Work the plan and keep track 

Now you have the plan in place, try and stick to it. Easier said than done, yes, but you need to keep track of when you’ve stuck to it and when you’ve had a wobble and splurged.

To modify a good intention into becoming an actual habit, you’re going to need to try and stick to it consistently for 30-60 days! But think about what you could achieve, by simply cutting down on your afternoon coffee and saving yourself £3 a day, you could save £180 in just 60 days - and once you start to see your new habit delivering results, you may find you stop craving that afternoon coffee at all. Don’t forget you also have access to Salary Finance who offers salary-linked financial support. To see the products available to you, click here and select your employer.