Here’s a simple, 5-step process you can use to create financial goals, be consistent with them, and eventually make them a reality.

1. Start with why
If you make a goal just for the sake of setting a goal, sticking to it will be a slog. Instead, find the inspiration surrounding your goal to keep yourself motivated—especially when it gets difficult. Begin by asking yourself, “why?” for example:

I would like to build up an emergency fund.
Why?

• To continue paying housing/utilities/food if I lose my job.
• To avoid draining my bank account for emergency expenses.
• To give myself peace of mind in a financial emergency.

I would like to begin participating in my company’s 401(k) plan
Why?

• To retire comfortably
• To lower my annual taxes
• To get free money from employer contributions

2. Get SMART
With a solid foundation of “why,” next you can create the “how” and “when” of your financial goals. One tried-and-true method is to make your goals SMART, which is an acronym for:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-bound

Using SMART helps you dive into the details of how to accomplish the goal, which gives you a better chance of success. So building upon the goal of creating an emergency fund, you can expand it to make it SMART:

I want to create an emergency fund of $2000 (specific) within one year (time-bound) by saving $175/month (achievable, measurable)to have a safety net for financial emergencies (relevant).

Just remember, SMART goals should be challenging, but not impossible. Be realistic about your goals by looking at your budget, income, and the assets you have to work with.

3. Write them down
Keeping your goals only inside your head is a good way to forget about them. Don’t just commit your goal to memory—write it down! Just the simple act of putting pen to paper helps make your goal that much more real and easier to stick to.

To take it one step further, keep your written goal somewhere visible that you’ll see every day, like a bathroom mirror or your car dashboard. That simple daily reminder can keep you focused on making the daily decisions toward accomplishing your goal.

4. Get support
An old African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Peer support might not be the most necessary for short-term financial goals, but for long-term goals (like paying off a car, student loans, or buying a house) extra support can make all the difference for your success.

Getting the right individual or group in your corner provides a cheerleader for encouragement and a coach to challenge you. This extra accountability gives you the right amount of pressure to keep pressing on when the going gets tough.

If you’re uncomfortable talking with friends or family about your financial goals, you could explore other options—like a Facebook group or online forum.

5. Celebrate
Goal setting shouldn’t be all work and no play. Along with the excitement of achieving your goal, you can build in rewards for yourself to make it even more fun. For bigger goals, treat yourself after important milestones.

For example, maybe you treat yourself to a nice meal at a restaurant whenever your 401(k) account accumulates another $5,000. When you reach your target amount for retirement, you could take a big vacation to celebrate.