A Couple’s Wist List – Motivation For Success
My wife love lists. She’s always making them:
- Grocery Lists
- To-Do Lists
- Christmas Lists
The wish list.
For as long as I’ve known her, my wife has always kept a list of things that she wants. Once we got married we started a couple’s “wish list”. In fact we keep it on the fridge so we see it everyday.
Here it is:
- Leather Furniture
- Area Rugs
- Desk & Cabinets
- Bedroom set
- Hide-a-bed
- Water Softener
- Trip to NYC
- Refrigerator
- Fence
- Vacuum Cleaner
Yes & No.
No – Actually this is a good motivating factor for us not to spend money. It reminds us that every time we spend money on something wasteful, it just delays us from getting to cross off one more item off the wish list.
I’m no expert on “The Secret” but I think I remember watching a part about a guy who put together a “dream board” which was made up of pictures of items that he really wanted. He’d then focus on them and POOF, he moved into his dream house. Obviously I don’t think that is going to happen to us (believe me, we tried), but our list serves the same purpose.
It helps keeps our eyes on the prize.
**Tangent** I don’t want it to seem like I’m mocking “The Secret” (even though I am). I do think there is something to “The Law of Attraction”, but I think a more realistic approach was given in another motivational book, “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. It’s kind’ve like HAPPY ROCK’s recent post about Seth Godin’s blog entry about effort. You have to work for things, not just wish for them.** end of Tangent**
But just to make sure that this list is a motivator for good behavior, and not bad. We added a new item recently that should help:
- Get Out of Debt!
What do you want? What is on your wish list? Sorry, but the Cubbies winning the World Series doesn’t count as a wish list…it needs to be realistic.
Until next time,
-DD
The Lost Art Of Saving To Pay Cash For Purchases
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i can honestly say i don’t really have a wish list. Sure, i have financial goals, like paying off my mortgage in 7 years, and eventually i’ll need a new car, but nothing else short-term comes to mind.
that’s becus i’m really trying hard not to spend money on non-ncessary things, so rather than dreaming about wha i want, I simply don’t. I’ve cancelled most of the catalogs that used to come to the house, and if i get one now, it goes in the trash so i’m not even tempted to newly discover something i must have.
I have a list that has items that range from small to large in price. I’m in no hurry to fulfill the list but every now and again I’ll see something at a great price that is on the list and I pick it up.
I have a “house” wish list. Some decorating things, some furniture and appliance replacement, paint color ideas, etc. There is a ‘household repair, replace’ line item in the budget and I’m currently saving up for a new washing machine. Every few months, I mark another item off the list.
I also have a ‘books to read’ list (LIBRARY!!!) and a “films” list (NETFLICKs!!)
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
@ Fern – Good for you! I wish we had your discipline.
@ Amber C – There you go!
@ Karla – Our list has basically turned into a house list. Fix Front Porch, new basement windows, a water softener…stuff like that.
The last part of your comment makes me miss my queue 🙁
http://www.thehappyrock.com/2008/08/26/just-canceled-netflixtrimming-the-budget-fat/
Motivation is the key to all success. There are many factors in life that determine the amount of motivation we have at any given time. Pain can be a motivator as well as pleasure.
Set a major goal, but follow a path. The path has mini goals that go in many directions. When you learn to succeed at mini goals, you will be motivated to challenge grand goals.
Success in life isn’t all big dreams and inspiring ideas. Daily improvements and small, positive steps are just as critical, perhaps even more so.
lol… poof.
I’m a huge fan of Napoleon Hill and a big believer in the law of attraction. I do believe that you attract things into your life, but not in the sense of just imagining you own something (like a car) and then expecting the universe to rearrange itself to give it to you.
When I say I’m a believer of the law of attraction, I’m talking more along the lines of taking a specific path in life, a definite major purpose as Napoleon Hill teaches. If you have a definite major purpose and have the enthusiasm and determination to do what it takes to achieve this purpose, you will find that things will start to happen, doors will open, people will go out of their way to help you. Opportunities will appear that you would have never thought possible.
Shannon
Nuclear Success