5 Things you can do today for Free…that you’re future self will thank you for

You can do so many things today that your future self will thank you for. Some of these things are completely free. We are currently on our debt-free journey and I have been astounded by the number of things I have been able to accomplish without spending a dime. This is a list of the things that are a good starting point and I felt had the most positive impact.

1. Set Up Your Budget – Many people do not have a budget. Many people do not understand budgeting at all. There are so many resources available for free online to learn about budgeting. There are free apps if you prefer to do it that way. EveryDollar is really good and easy to use. Having a budget helps you to save money, pay your bills in a timely manner, and work toward your goals. The best part of setting up a budget is that it will make every month easier forever if you simply continue with it. Once you have your base budget you only need to update it every month. If you take the time to set up a good budget it will take very minimal effort to continue with it. You will be thanking yourself for this every month for years to come.
2. Declutter – It doesn’t matter if it’s a drawer, a closet, or your whole house, it will make a difference. Clearing out the junk is something that will make you happy in the future because you will not have to continue to deal with the clutter.
3. Life plan/5 year plan – Take some time to figure out what it is that you really want. Take at least a few hours if not the whole day. Turn off all the distractions so you can actually hear your inner voice. So often we are simply following the path laid before us without deciding if it is the path we want to spend our lives walking. Make a list of things that you would be the most disappointed not to accomplish during your lifetime. This is different than a list of things that you want to do. We all have a crazy amount of things that we want and being bombarded with advertising our whole lives only makes our list longer. Really narrow down your list and you will start to notice that your list has an overall theme. Is it security you are looking for? Do you want to retire a millionaire? Are you hoping to raise your kids and grow old in the same home? Do you want to travel the world? Hoping to finish your master’s degree? Wanting to move to a certain place? Discuss lifetime goals with your significant other if you have one. That way you can figure out how their goals and yours fit together. It’s important to plan together. Once you figure out what it is that you are hoping for during your life, start planning how to achieve these goals. The biggest, craziest wishes become goals the minute you begin planning how to get there. Sometimes the wish that seemed so crazy becomes realistic when you start figuring out what steps would be needed to achieve it. You may not like all the steps to get to where you want to be but if you want to get there you will have to make some sacrifices and put in some hard work.
4. Read a Book – Do you have a book sitting around that you have been meaning to read but never get around to reading? Do you have a list of books that you would love to read? Are there books that would help you with your job or a hobby? The book sitting there is already paid for. Read it. Want to read a book that you don’t already have? Check the library. You can also ask to borrow books from friends and family. Are you a major reader or want to read more? Consider setting up a book swap. Your future self will thank you for the knowledge and you never know when you will find yourself in a conversation where a certain book will come up. Reading helps you to become a more well-rounded person. It also keeps your mind and your imagination working.
5. Take a free class – Does your work offer any free courses that would help you to perform better at work? Any classes at your local library that interest you? Any free online courses for things that will benefit you in some way? Our family has taken many free classes over the years. I work in healthcare at a hospital that offers many perks including free classes. My children have taken many free classes at the local libraries. The area we live has multiple county libraries and we can enjoy neighboring counties as well without driving too far. I took online classes for typing years ago and more recently have enjoyed some free courses about blogging. It is amazing what knowledge is available to you for free if you are willing to look.

Hope this list gets you started on bettering your life while paying off debt or saving money.