Visualize your financial goals to keep them top-of-mind.

Searching for a way to stay on track with your money? A financial vision board can help clarify your goals and reach them faster. The general idea is to create a visual collage that represents what you want to achieve financially. By referring to it often, especially when making money decisions, it helps you to keep your financial goals within view on a daily basis so you spend and save according to your priorities. 

Identify your goals

Step one in creating a financial vision board is to name your goals. Common ones include becoming debt-free, building an emergency fund and saving for a car, home or college tuition. The goals can be whatever matters most to your financial future. Reflect on what’s really important to you as well as anything that might be on your bucket list. Perhaps a dream vacation or a destination wedding? Anything that’s meaningful to you should go on your board.

Collect images that represent your goals

Fill your financial vision board with images and words that represent your goals. Magazines, online image searches and hand-drawn illustrations can help you visualize the potential.

Your financial vision board could also include elements that help track your progress. If you have a savings goal, you might include a “thermometer” that can be updated as you make progress toward your goal. If you’re paying down debt, your vision board might include a list of monthly dates with blank lines where you fill in the decreasing debt. Seeing your progress this way can help keep you motivated.

Create your collage

A financial vision board can be as simple or elaborate as you like. All you need to start is poster board and a glue stick for affixing the images that represent your goals. If it’s your style, add embellishments or maybe color-code your goals. The only rule here is to create a collage that’s pleasing to you.

Place your board someplace visible

Display your vision board where you’ll see it every day. You can also snap a picture of your board and save it to your phone’s or computer’s home screen.

A vision board alone won’t make your financial goals reality. You’ll still need to take steps to save, control spending, and/or earn more. Dedicated savings accounts for each of your financial goals can also be useful as you pursue your goals.

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