In football, every game matters. Each quarter, each play, every strategy is carefully calculated to get the team closer to victory. In the same way, every financial decision you make moves you closer—or further away—from your financial goals. That’s why, just like in football, it’s essential to review your progress each week. Sunday is my Gameday for money, the day I check my financial statements and see if I’ve hit my goals for the week.
What is Financial Gameday?
Gameday is when I sit down and take a hard look at my spending, savings, and income for the past week. It’s the time to ask: Did I meet my financial goals? Just like reviewing a football game tape, I go through my bank and credit card statements to see where all my money went. I’m tallying up my scores, and by scores, I mean how well I managed my money.
I treat every month like a football game. Each week is a quarter, and the goal is to consistently hit my financial targets. To win the game (the month), I have to make sure that each week (each quarter) is strong. This system keeps me on track and helps me make sure I’m moving toward financial freedom.
What Does Financial Freedom Look Like?
For me, financial freedom means more than just having money. It means having the flexibility and control to make decisions without being tied down by financial obligations. Imagine this: if a great opportunity comes up, like a last-minute vacation deal, financial freedom means I can jump on that offer without having to worry about the rest of my bills. Or if I decide I no longer want to stay at a job I don’t like, financial freedom allows me to walk away and take the time to find something that excites me, without rushing because of bills or debt.
Here are some examples of what financial freedom could mean:
• If a loved one needs medical care or a nursing home, I have the money to cover it without hesitation.
• If my kids want to play club soccer and travel around the country, I can say yes without worrying about how to pay for it.
• If my spouse wants to quit their job to follow a passion project, I have the resources to support that decision.
In short, financial freedom is about having the ability to make choices based on what I want to do, not what I have to do because of financial pressure.
How to Win the Financial Game
Just like in football, the path to victory requires consistency, discipline, and strategy. To build long-term financial success, I need to win more financial games—meaning I need to consistently hit my financial goals each week. Over time, those weekly wins lead to winning entire seasons, which, in the long run, results in building a financial dynasty.
The key to winning the financial game is simple: weekly reviews. If I don’t check my progress regularly, I’m just guessing where my money is going. You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Every Sunday, I look at my financial plays (spending, income, savings) and see where I might be falling short or where I’m on track. This weekly check-in helps me stay focused on my goals and gives me the chance to adjust my strategy if needed.
The Importance of Weekly Financial Reviews
In football, halftime is when the coach looks at what’s working and what isn’t. Adjustments are made to turn the game around if the team is falling behind. That’s what weekly financial reviews are like—they’re your halftime adjustments.
Here’s why weekly financial reviews are so important:
• Accountability: It’s easy to overspend or forget about a financial goal if you aren’t checking in regularly. Reviewing your finances each week keeps you accountable.
• Catch Mistakes Early: Maybe you’re spending more on dining out than you realized, or maybe you forgot to save for an upcoming bill. Catching these issues early helps you course-correct before they become bigger problems.
• Stay on Track with Goals: Weekly reviews remind you of your long-term financial goals. Are you saving enough? Are you managing your spending? Each week gives you a chance to evaluate your progress.
• Build Good Habits: By making financial reviews a routine, you’re building a habit that will pay off in the long run. Consistent reviews lead to consistent improvements.
Game Plan for Success
To win financially, it’s not enough to play offense or defense. You have to do both. Here’s how I break down my financial offense and defense:
• Offense: This is all about generating income. How am I making money? Do I have multiple streams of income? Am I working on ways to increase my earning potential, like through investments or side projects?
• Defense: Defense is about managing expenses. Where is my money going? Am I overspending in certain areas? Do I have a budget in place that I’m sticking to? Defense means making sure I’m not letting money slip away on unnecessary costs.
Just like in football, you can’t win the game if you only focus on one side. A strong offense and a strong defense are both necessary for financial success.
Building a Financial Dynasty
I don’t just want to win one game—I want to build a financial dynasty. This means consistently meeting my financial goals, month after month, year after year. By doing weekly financial reviews, I’m putting myself in a position to win in the long term.
Every Sunday is Gameday for me. It’s when I review the plays, look at my performance, and see how well I’m moving toward financial freedom. To win the game of financial success, I need to stay focused, disciplined, and make sure that each week’s “quarter” is as strong as possible. Financial freedom is the goal, and every Gameday gets me one step closer.
So, what’s your financial game plan? Are you reviewing your progress every week? If you want to win the financial game, start treating every week like it matters—because it does.
Let’s build that financial dynasty, one Gameday at a time.
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