Cheyenne Suarez

Before the year slips away, here’s how to get back on track with your money goals

Article (news)

Aneth Ng-Lim

<div><br/></div><p>Remember those money goals you made back in January? Let me guess some of them. Save more. Spend less. Finally, build an emergency fund. These are usually the top 3 when it comes to New Year’s money resolutions.  Maybe you also added “stop buying things just because they looked good on TikTok” or “ no more payment plans for designer items I can’t afford”.</p><p>If you&#x27;re reading this and quietly nodding that yes, those were my goals and thinking: Oops, I didn’t get too far. Well, you&#x27;re not alone.</p><p>The middle of the year is actually the perfect time for a financial reset. Unlike New Year&#x27;s resolutions, a mid-year check-in comes with something even more valuable: six months of real-life experience. You already know what worked, what didn&#x27;t, and where your money actually went.</p><p>So now you can make a few small adjustments that hopefully can make a big difference before December arrives. Here are 7 ways that can help get you and your money goals back on track.</p><div><strong>#1 Give yourself grace</strong></div><p>The biggest mistake people make during a financial check-in is treating it like an exam they already failed. And so they beat themselves up and start the blame game.</p><p>Why not think of it as checking Google Maps? If you&#x27;ve taken a wrong turn, the app doesn&#x27;t shame you. It simply recalculates the route.  You can do the same with your money goals.</p><p>Take an honest look today at your finances. Did you save as much as you planned? Are you carrying more debt than expected? Have your expenses increased because of rent, food, transportation or subscriptions? Money goals should evolve with real life. If your circumstances changed, your financial plan should change too. </p><div><strong>#2 Find your biggest money leak</strong></div><p>While I’ve given advice many times about watching what you spend on gourmet coffee, I realize now that is not always the culprit.</p><p>There are many other spending habits that can quietly drain your wallet. Maybe it&#x27;s food delivery several times a week. Or online shopping during midnight scrolling sessions. It could also be paying for streaming services you barely use. I suggest you review your bank statements or e-wallet history from the past month.</p><p>Your biggest savings opportunity isn&#x27;t about cutting everything. It can be trimming one or two or three things that don&#x27;t actually add value to your life.</p><div><strong>#3 Make your savings automatic</strong></div><p>If your saving depends on what&#x27;s left in your account at the end of the month, chances are it won&#x27;t be much. When it comes to saving and investing, while discipline is good, I’ve found that automation is even better.</p><p>When I wanted to build savings funds for my kids, I set up a monthly automated transfer.  When I hoped to buy a property, I set up automated savings to cover the equity or down payment.</p><p>I would encourage you to schedule an automatic transfer to your savings account every payday, even if it&#x27;s just a small amount. The secret isn&#x27;t how much you save at first. It&#x27;s making saving something that happens without requiring a decision every month.</p><p>I promise that the future you will thank the present you.</p><div><strong>#4 Unfollow the comparison game</strong></div><p>Social media has made it incredibly easy to compare your life with everyone else&#x27;s highlight reel. You open the app and see that someone just bought a new phone. Another friend flew to Japan. Your officemate seems to eat at trendy cafés every weekend.</p><p>But what you don&#x27;t see are their credit card bills, loans, financial help from family, or even years of saving behind those moments.</p><p>Remember that financial success isn&#x27;t measured by how expensive your news feed looks. Sometimes the wealthiest person in the room is the one quietly investing, saving, and avoiding debt.</p><div><strong>#5 Celebrate small wins</strong></div><p>Saving your first P5,000 matters. Paying off one credit card matters. Building one month of emergency savings matters. Skipping impulse purchases for an entire week matters.</p><p>You don’t need to wait for big milestones before you celebrate.  Too often, people feel like they&#x27;re failing simply because they haven&#x27;t reached the finish line. But financial confidence grows through these small victories. Instead, treat every milestone as proof that your habits are changing, not just your bank balance.</p><div><strong>#6 Give your side hustle a mission</strong></div><p>It’s a Pinoy thing, not just a Gen Z thing, to earn income beyond day jobs.  Maybe you are freelancing, selling online, doing content creation, or pursuing passion projects.</p><p>These are all great, and you need to make sure that your extra income does not disappear into everyday spending.  Why not assign it a specific purpose? Maybe every peso from your side hustle goes into travel. Or investing. Or paying off debt. Or building your emergency fund.</p><p>When extra income has a clear destination, you can reach your financial goals faster.</p><div><strong>#7 Picture the version of yourself you&#x27;re saving for</strong></div><p>Money goals become much easier when you have a vision board. You&#x27;re not just saving money; you&#x27;re saving for your first solo trip. Or for graduate school. Maybe moving into your own place. You could be planning to start a business or wanting to help your parents. Or just to have enough financial breathing room to leave a job that no longer makes you happy.</p><p>The clearer the destination, the easier it becomes to say no to unnecessary spending.</p><p>The second half of the year is starting in a few days. A lot can still happen in the next six months. So don&#x27;t wait for another New Year&#x27;s resolution. Open your banking app now. Review your finances. Make one small adjustment today.</p><p>By the time December arrives, you&#x27;ll be surprised by how much progress a mid-year reset can create.</p>