💸 Financial Goal-Setting in Your 20s: How to Even Approach Something Like That

Post at a Glance 👀

• 🚨“Wait, I’m Supposed to Have Financial Goals???”

• 💬 So, What Is a Financial Goal, Actually?

• 🧠 “But What Even Counts as a Real Financial Goal?”

• 🧭 How to Figure Out Your Financial Goals

• 🗺️ Aligning Your Budget With Your Goals

• 🤔 Need a starting point for budgeting?

• 🧮 The 3-Step Goal-Setting Formula

• ⚠️ Watch Out for These Common Goal-Setting Mistakes

• 💬 Final Thoughts

• Let’s Make Your Goals Less 😫 “Ugh”, and More 😁 “Hell Yes”

🚨“Wait, I’m Supposed to Have Financial Goals???”

Setting money goals in your 20s feels like being handed IKEA instructions... except there are no instructions, you're missing the Allen wrench, and someone’s yelling “Just figure it out!!” from the next room.

To be frank—Nobody really taught us this. No one had a class called “How to Pay Bills Without Panicking” or “What to Do When Your Bank Balance Hits Single Digits.” Suddenly, you’re expected to have a 5-year plan, a Roth IRA, and a $500 emergency fund all at once?

That doesn’t mean you can’t start somewhere—and make it make sense for you.

🧭 You don’t need a 10-step plan.

🧙‍♂️ You definitely don’t need to be a spreadsheet grandmaster.

🙏 You just need to connect your cash to what you care about.

This isn’t a lecture. This is a financial vibe check (minus the stress). Let’s get into it.

💬 So, What Is a Financial Goal, Actually?

At its core, a financial goal is just a money milestone. Something Future You will want to high-five Past You for.

It’s about intention—not just restriction.

You can create goals for:

• Spending smarter (think: mindful purchases)

• Saving with purpose (not just hoarding cash)

• Paying off debts that weigh on you

• Building dreams that feel a little closer every month

TL;DR: A financial goal is a way to turn “ugh, I’m broke” into “I’m working toward something.”

🧠 “But What Even Counts as a Real Financial Goal?”

Literally anything you spend or save for with intention. Some examples you might already be working toward without even realizing:

• A phone that doesn’t shut down at 20% battery

• A car that doesn’t sound like it’s dying every time it starts

• An apartment without 7 roommates and a broken heater

• A vacation where you don’t crash on someone’s floor

• A fancy espresso machine (because $7 lattes add up real fast)

• Saving for a house (yes, even if it feels impossible)

• Paying off credit card debt

• Building a “life just got messy” emergency fund

The point? If it improves your life, it’s a valid goal. Start with what matters to you.

🧭 How to Figure Out Your Financial Goals

(Not TikTok’s)

Hot Take: Not every money goal needs to be “✨aesthetic🤩” or “TikTok-approved”. Your goals should match your life—not someone else’s highlight reel.

Ask Yourself:
💭 “What money stress keeps me up at night?” (Overdraft fees? That creeping rent anxiety?)
🚀 “What would actually make daily life easier?” (A reliable car? Grocery delivery?)
📅 “Where do I want to be in 1/5/10 years?” (Geographically, career-wise, emotionally, or financially)
🚪 "What would make coming home feel better?" (Hint: Probably not 5 roommates)

Try This:
✍️ 5-Minute Brain Dump: List everything you'd do with an extra $500/month. What would fix your biggest headache?
📱 The "Receipt Autopsy": Check last week’s bank app - what purchases made you happiest?
🌅 Visualize Your "Ideal Tuesday": What does it cost to live that day?
🔍 Spot the Pain Points: Which current expenses don’t bring you joy? (Lookin’ at you, unused gym membership.)

Brainstorm what financial freedom actually looks and feels like—for you.

🗺️ Aligning Your Budget With Your Goals

A goal without a budget is a wish. A budget without goals is a black hole for cash.

Here’s how to connect them:

1. Pick Your Priority—Ex: “I want to move out of my shoebox apartment.”

2. Budget Reality Check—Quick Maths: $1,500 deposit + $2400 extra rent (OR $200/month extra rent) = $2,900 saved in a year.

3. Automate the Hustle—Suggestion: Divert $240/month to a “Freedom Fund” auto-transfer.

When you start aligning your budget with your actual goals, your money becomes less chaotic and more empowering. You stop asking “Where did it all go?” and start saying “Yep, I planned for that.”

Budgeting isn’t about restriction.
It’s your money map.
And your goals? They’re the destination.

When spending reflects your values and future plans, even small decisions start to feel meaningful. You’re not just cutting costs—you’re creating space for what matters.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

🕒 Short-Term Goals (under 1 year)

• Emergency fund starter ($500 = peace of mind)

• Eating out with no guilt (aka the “Treat Yourself” fund)

• Paying off that Afterpay debt haunting your inbox

📅 Mid-Term Goals (1–5 years)

• Upgrading your car to something that doesn’t sound like it’s begging for mercy every time you drive it

• Moving out…(finally)

• Paying off student loans or credit card debt

• A vacation where “budget airline” isn’t part of your vocabulary
  

🏡 Long-Term Goals (5+ years)

• Buying a home (or even just planning for one by starting a Down Payment Fund—even $50/month adds up)

• Starting your own business (No business idea yet? A food truck is always a solid start... just let me know where to find it.)

• Retirement funds (or “Future Me’s Nap Fund”)

✨Quick Tip: When your budget reflects these goals, even saying “no” to things becomes a “yes” to something bigger.

🧮 The 3-Step Goal-Setting Formula

(aka the NNT Method = “No Nonsense Tracker”)

Let’s Keep It Simple:

1. Name it 

   • “I want to pay off my $3,000 credit card.”

2. Number it 

   • “That’s $300/month for 10 months.”

3. Time it 

   • “By January = DONE.”

Boom. You’ve got a clear, trackable, realistic goal.

⚠️ Watch Out for These Common Goal-Setting Mistakes

• Vague Goals Like: “save money” is not going to cut it —> “save $500 by August” is the move.

• Budget Blindspots: Not tracking your progress (you can’t improve what you don’t track—how are you supposed to know when you have enough to go to that 5-star resort?)

• Comparison Trap: Your cousin buying a house at 25 ≠ your path. (Everyone’s financial lane looks different.)

Let’s Make Your Goals Less “Ugh”, and More “Hell Yes”

Don’t go after your goals all alone—the Luci team is here to help.
Want to find the best credit card for your lifestyle and start building extra funds toward your goals?