Whether you are following Dave Ramsey, Rob Berger, Suze Orman, or any other personal finance guru in the world, the most important thing is that you have a plan that you believe in.
Going through life without a working plan is just like aiming at nothing and wondering why you are missing the target.
I don’t care what plan you choose (though I have my favorites), there is wisdom in all plans, but here is the thing: People are struggling with a working plan, and here might be some of the reasons:
People lack the reason for their plans.
Why do they want to save money? Why do they want financial freedom? Why does it matter to them? You need to find your why. Is it for you or for your spouse and kids? Do you see how your parents’ retirement is going, good or bad, and do you want the same or better? Do you want to travel? Do you want to get your dream job? Find your why and find a plan that aligns with it.
People don’t believe in the plan.
Someone told them to try it, so they did. It might be working, it might not. If they don’t believe in the plan, there is a high probability that they won’t stick with it. Find a plan you can believe in.
People have lost hope.
You must have hope for your future. You must have hope that God has a plan for you that is greater than you can imagine. Lacking hope is not healthy. Find a coach, support team, go to church again, and know that you are worth the blessings God has for you.
People lack the support.
If you aren’t on the same page as your spouse, chances are things aren’t going to work. If you are not married and trying to execute a plan without support, it's a hard road. Regardless of your marital status, you need to have a support team.
They just don’t know any different.
Financial literacy is lacking in our school system and most families, especially when you are struggling, don’t talk about money. So, we learn from society. Society isn't our friend here; they want our money. Lacking literacy and a plan, society will win. They will get our money, and you will find yourself wondering where it went. Do yourself a favor, humble yourself, and learn something new every day about money.