This is first, and important question you need to ask yourself. Why? If your reason for setting your goal is not sincere, your motivation and enthusiasm can wane drastically as you progress on your goal path. Setting personal goals is just that - personal, and if you do not have deep-rooted reason for your goal, your chances of succeeding are reduced dramatically.

We generally set goals because we are unhappy with where we are, either in life, our job, or a relationship. As Og Mandino says, "People don't change when they feel good. They change when they're fed up. When things are going all right, we all tend to do pretty much what we've been doing. Pain pushes us to those crucial turning points. We hurt, then we finally choose. It's that adverb finally. Enough is enough.!"

We want something better. An example is a better paying position at work, or a management position. Maybe it can be that we want to lose weight, or become healthier. Whatever it is, we generally set goals as result of wanting something better.

Animals function on instinct. They sleep, eat and procreate. That's it.

We humans have a thinking ability. And it is with this thinking ability that we have urge to achieve something better. But we are also an inherently lazy creature, and we tend to have a resistance to effort.

Goals help keep us motivated

When we have something to aim at, something we achieve, we usually become excited. Think of going to your favorite restaurant. While you're getting ready, you can almost smell and taste your meal, and you are excited. It is no different when you have a goal to aim at, and this is especially relevant if you have a life goal. Each milestone that you reach, increases your excitement, aka your motivation. Especially, think of when you go on holiday. What is your level of excitement just prior to leaving on holiday, and to what level does this excitement rise shortly before leaving? And then as you progress on your journey? Using holiday example, this excitement keeps rising nearer you get to your destination.

Goals undoubtedly give us direction. An example here is when we want to progress in our career.

Let's say we want to secure a management position. We increase our knowledge and experience, and as result we become more equipped for position. It is objective of management position that motivates us to undergo training, for example. Our goals enable us to move forward, and moving forward can only be beneficial. Go for gold.

Successful people are goal orientated

Whatever your definition of success is, you will find it difficult to reach that level of success without goals.

If you don't have a target, arrow will hit nothing.

Money is a not only a big motivator in our lives, but also a necessary part of it. Therefore, it is perfectly normal to set money goals, especially if we want to advance financially. It may be difficult for you to set, and stick to your money goals. Or you may be one of lucky few who find it easy. For most of us, it is not easy to set, and keep to our money goals. The real secret is there is no secret to reaching your money goals - it takes a little common sense, with a dash of determination.

This article offers five secrets/hints, which are practical, and when followed, it is possible to reach your money goals. I must stress that these secrets/hints are realistic.

What is your goal with money?

You have dreams and goals, and money is central to practically all your aspirations and goals. Money almost always is central to your achieving any number of goals. A teenager I spoke to some time ago complained that she had a goal, but she wouldn't be able to achieve it. She said it was her goal to travel abroad, but she didn't have money.

I explained that money was in reality her first goal, and that is what she should focus on. She could take on part-time work, save from her allowance, and cut spending. By focusing on her money goals, she would then be able to work towards her bigger goal - that of going abroad.

You may have goal to become financially independent, but that is not in scope of this article.

Whatever your money goals are, you should always follow a strategy to reach them, otherwise it will be extremely difficult, if at all possible. The following are five practical hints to help you reach your money goals.

1. Have a Budget

Please note that this is a realistic discussion on subject of having a budget. There are two aspects in having a budget: income and expenses. A successful budget means income is more than expenses. And therefore, success of your budget means control of these two aspects. Having specific goals can go a long way to helping you control these aspects. These can be anything from buying a home entertainment center, clearing credit card debt, going on holiday.

To help with establishing money goals, you could draw up a written "agreement" with your partner, spouse, friend or family member. This can be used to remind each other when impulsive buying urges surface. The first step in reaching your money goals is control of your finances, and a realistic budget is means to do this.

What do you do if your budget does not balance? There are in reality only two options: decrease expenses, or increase income. Most of time it is not easy or practical to get former right. It is possible to increase income by making an extra income. This can be done through a variety of means. You could consider turning your hobby into an income generating source. Or you could investigate operating a web business - benefit of this is that it can be started with minimal start-up costs.

2. Stay away from debt

Now, wasn't that easy to say? Here it is paramount to have a realistic view. How possible is it really to stay away from debt? As old saying goes, "everything in moderation" or something along those lines. Getting into debt is one of easiest things in this world, and for this reason you need to put up your guard against it.