Take the Time to Celebrate: How Recognizing Money Wins Fuels Financial Success
🕐 Read Time 5 Minutes
Be honest: How’s that New Year’s resolution going? You know, the one you set back in January when you were full of fresh-start energy and committed to reaching your financial goals?
If you’re like most people, that motivation likely fizzled out as the months went by. Studies have shown that by March, 78% of people have abandoned their resolutions (and only 6% of resolutions last beyond a year!). Not because they didn’t care or weren’t serious, but because of the simple fact that life happens. Unexpected home repairs, slow months in business, an impulsive shopping trip — whatever it was that may have derailed you, know you’re not alone.
But here’s the thing with resolutions: the people who stick to their financial goals aren’t perfect; they’re the ones who know how to create momentum to keep going in their journey. And the best way to do that is by celebrating wins along the way.
Track Your Progress: Are You on Target with Your Financial Goal Setting?
Before we even talk about celebrating, let’s do a little check-in. If you don’t know where you stand, how will you know what to celebrate? Knowledge is power.
Maybe your financial goal was to save $5,000 by the summer, and you’re already halfway there (amazing!). Or maybe you’ve set an ambitious revenue goal for your small business, and while you haven’t hit it yet, you’ve still grown significantly from where you started.
Tracking your progress also helps you correct your course instead of quitting. Many ditch their goals the moment they’re falling behind. But instead of throwing in the towel, consider adjusting your timeline, or tweaking your strategy. Just because something isn’t happening exactly as planned doesn’t mean you’re not making progress.
So, ask yourself:
Are you hitting your financial targets?
If not, what’s getting in the way?
Does your goal feel right, or does it need some adjusting to fit your reality?
The more honest you are with yourself, the better equipped you’ll be to keep moving forward. And even if you’re a little behind on your goals, this is important: you still have wins to celebrate.
What Counts As a Win? It’s Not Just About the Numbers
One of the biggest mistakes we sometimes make when it comes to financial goal setting is thinking that only big milestones count — paying off a huge chunk of debt, hitting a large savings goal, or landing a six-figure sales contract. The truth is that the small stuff is just as important because those are the habits that can help lead us to long-term financial success.
A win doesn’t have to mean that you suddenly have your financial life perfectly together (because, spoiler alert: no one does). A win could be as simple as:
Saying no to a tempting impulse buy that you really don’t need.
Finally setting up automatic transfers to your savings and retirement accounts.
Negotiating a higher rate for your business services instead of underpricing yourself.
Sticking to your meal-planning strategy most of the time, even if takeout still happens occasionally.
Celebrating these smaller wins matters because it shifts your mindset: instead of constantly thinking that you’re failing at financial success, you start recognizing that you’re building it. And feeling like you’re making progress is way more motivating than feeling like you’re constantly falling short.
Give yourself credit for your wins, no matter how small.
How to Celebrate Your Money Wins
While you might think that simply acknowledging progress and your wins should be enough, you really should celebrate them. If we don’t actively reward ourselves, it can be easy to lose steam. Remember, though, don’t let your celebration undo the very progress you’re celebrating (for example, if you stuck to your budget all month, maybe don’t celebrate with a shopping spree).
The key to celebrating your money wins is to find a reward that feels good but keeps you moving forward. Here are some ideas:
Small but meaningful treats: Treat yourself to a fancy latte you wouldn’t normally drink, buy a new book, or take a guilt-free afternoon off to do whatever you want.
Business-focused rewards: If your win is business-related, invest in something that makes your work easier, or take your team (or just yourself) out for lunch.
Experiences over material things: Go out for a nice meal at that restaurant you’ve wanted to try, take a fun day trip to that place you’ve been meaning to visit or spend quality time with the people who make you happy.
Rewards don’t have to be expensive to be meaningful. The real win is reinforcing good habits so you want to keep going.
And if you love a well-organized plan, consider creating a structured reward system. Think of it like leveling up in a game: for every financial milestone you hit, you unlock a predetermined reward, whether it’s a fun little treat, a night out with friends, or just a day to relax (all within budget, of course!).
From Win to Win: Using Momentum to Reach Your Next Financial Goal
Celebrating wins isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about using that positive energy to keep the momentum going. When you see that your efforts are paying off (even if it’s in small ways), it’s easier to stay committed to your goals.
With the progress you’ve made, you can ask yourself:
Do I stick with my original goal and keep pushing forward?
Do I adjust my goal based on what I’ve learned so far in my journey?
Do I set a brand new goal that builds on my success?
Your goals should evolve with you. Just because you set a goal in January doesn’t mean that it has to stay the same indefinitely. Financial success isn’t about rigidly sticking to a plan — it’s about making intentional changes that align with what you want to achieve.
Keep Celebrating, Keep Growing
Remember, financial success is about consistency and giving yourself credit where it’s due. Whether you’ve crushed a big financial goal or made a smart money move this week, celebrate it! Your progress deserves recognition — go celebrate, and then keep the momentum going.
If you’re feeling like you could use some extra support or guidance to keep yourself moving forward, we’re here for you. At Financial Fitness Coaching, we can help you create a financial strategy that aligns with your values, feels doable, and works for you or your small business. Schedule a free Discovery Call and we can help you make sure your financial goals aren’t just set but achieved (and celebrated properly!).
Wherever you are on your financial journey, every win — big or small — adds up, so keep going, keep learning, and most importantly, keep celebrating the progress that gets you closer to the life and business you’re building!