When you are goal-setting, do you have a specific number in mind that you need to sell to be “comfortable”? 

Do you think about what how many houses or staging jobs or mortgages that need to be sold each quarter?  Do you break it down into quarters?  Or even weeks? 

Sometimes, we get so caught up in our day-to-day running that we forget to PLAN. 

And, while you are planning for achieving those goals, have you thought about what you might be wasting as well?

There are so many “things” that we think we need to prove to ourselves that we are “successful”:  the morning Starbucks or Caribou, the fresh flowers on our desks, the dinners out, the have-to-have latest shoes or books or whatever. 

Think about this for a minute.  If you didn’t buy those flowers every week, you would save about $500 a year.  If you don’t need those running shoes now, but can wait until they are a little older stock or go on sale, you could save at least $100.  If you don’t stop at the coffee shop, but invest in great coffee you can make at home, you will likely save $400.  The list goes on…

How many “gadgets” are in your kitchen that you never or rarely use?  How many hardcovers (or even softcover books) do you buy, read once and shelve or toss eventually.  Most communities have great libraries and did you know that if it isn’t on the shelf, they will be happy to order it for you? 

When we plan for income, we also need to pay attention to needless expenses, too.  The bottom line will look much healthier with just a slight trim to waste.  And, then when you get really serious, there are dozens of books (to get from the library) about saving. 

There is:

The Tightwad Gazette series by Amy Dacycsyn, The Courage to Be Rich by Suze Orman (oh, lots of great tips in there!), Your Money or Your Life, The Millionaire Next Door, and Money Can Buy Happiness. 

Check out how you could be keeping more and possibly even working less with just some fine-tuning to your budget. 

I want you to be successful and happy, not successful and stressed worrying about how to get the next sale.  If you are calm and serene, you send out great vibes to people who now know that they can trust you to do your best for them.  Like attracts Like.  And, if you aren't worried and stressed, you will be a better Realtor, stager or loan officer. 

And YOU DESERVE IT!