“If I had a million dollars, I would…” Most of us have heard people make this statement on many occasions in our lifetimes. Think about the last time you heard someone say it—how did they complete the sentence? Did they have a real, tangible, detailed, actionable plan that followed the first part of the statement? Or was it an off-handed comment that clearly had no prior consideration or plan behind it? Chances are, it was the latter. Astonishingly, most people have never taken the time to sit down and think about what they will do once they amass a target amount of money. Sure, they’ll go to Disney World, maybe buy a beach house or that sports car they always wanted. And if those are your goals too—great! But most people could come up with much more detailed and constructive things to do with their money if given enough time to ponder.
After all, the point of investing or saving money is not to collect it like some prized possession! Having a million dollars—or any other amount of money—does no good unless you spend it. It’s the spending where good things can happen. And before you run off thinking I’m encouraging you to spend every dime you make, think again! This article is focused on the long-term savings (some call this retirement savings, life savings, or similar terms).
Today, I encourage you to consider what you will DO with your money. Will you hoard it like Scrooge or will you put it to work doing the things you always wanted to do—whatever those might be? I challenge you to come up with a “If I had a million dollars” statement that’s so specific, so goal-oriented, and so attention-getting that people stop in their tracks when you tell them.
And once you have that detailed, head-turning statement, let those items become your motivating forces to start or continue saving, investing, spending frugally, and living intentionally. You’ll be surprised how motivating these goals can be!
