Prioritize financial goals

Organize goals into short, medium and long time frames.

• Short-term goals — These are financial goals for your immediate future. They could be anything you want to happen over the next few days, weeks and months. Try setting goals for a three- to six-month period. Going to the beach on spring break, saving toward a new laptop or paying back a debt owed to a friend might be top priorities for your short-term goals.
• Medium-term goals — Consider what you want to happen within the next three years. This might include goals for just after graduation, such as funding an unpaid internship, studying abroad or purchasing your first new car.
• Long-term goals — What would you like your life to look like more than three years out? These goals might include saving for graduate school, buying a home or even retirement planning.

Outline the savings you hope to have within certain time frames to help prioritize your activities toward meeting those goals.

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