Financial Blueprint

I ask the same question at the beginning of every single Beginner Coupon Class.

“How much are you currently spending on groceries, health and beauty, and cleaning supplies?”

I make the attendees write down a number and then divide that number in half.

“What would you do with the money if you had it back?”

I ask this, because in my mind, it isn’t enough to just save money.

You need to have a financial blueprint for your savings.

I believe with all of my “money-appreciator heart” that if you don’t assign a place for your savings, it will get lost in the family budget abyss.

You know, the place where extra Starbucks Coffee meets a new outfit for your daughter and another activity for your son.

And if that happens, you financial blueprint will remain the same and you are no farther ahead than when you clipped your first coupon.

What’s a family financial blueprint?

It’s your “financial house” long-term plan.

Think about it this way…you may have financial goals like a buying a new car, saving for retirement, providing a college education for the kids, or paying off debt.

And each one of those goals is like a room that fits somewhere inside your financial house. Like most people, your financial house is only so big. (Because you only have so much money to work with.) So you have to allocate different resources to different rooms. As one goal is met, you can change the house’s blueprint to add another room (goal) or make another room even bigger (add more $$$ to a certain goal.)

The point of all of this.

As women (and men), we are responsible for the upkeep and care of our financial house for generations to come.

A financial house that shows appreciation to money, working hard, and saving is more likely to pass those virtues to the next generation.

A financial house that shows excess spending, short-term gratification, and a buyer’s mentality is more likely to pass those virtues to the next generation.

But here is the super cool thing, just like a physical house, we are able to change our financial house with a new set of blueprints. We can remodel, add-on, or grow our current blueprint. If done correctly, a changed financial blueprint means we are getting closer and closer to our long-term financial goals.

So how are you changing your financial blueprint?

Are you like Sarah and paid off two cars early with your weekly grocery savings?

Are you like Cindy who is now staying home with her kids, instead of working 12 hour days as a nurse, because she was able to shed $600 a month off her grocery bill?

Are you like Kelly who is contributing fully to her ROTH IRAs and Kids ESAs with her grocery savings?

Are you like Melissa who has paid off $10K in credit card debt with the help of her grocery savings?

What will your house look like in the future? What will your story be?

Isn’t it exciting to think about the possibilities? How will your small savings each week at the grocery store lead to BIG changes in your family’s financial blueprint? What will your financial house look like in 12 months?