Hope is not a strategy. And while the obvious sidekick to hope is a plan, that too can leave you short of the mark without the third piece of the puzzle—commitment. You can have the best-laid plans to reach all of your financial goals and dreams, but without commitment, you’ll find yourself spinning your wheels.

If that’s where you feel like you are today, it’s okay. It’s normal. Committing to a new financial strategy that postpones reward until later is challenging. But with the right tips and direction, you can transform those plans into a strategy you practice like a pro.

Turn Your Plan into a Commitment

Find the right investment tool… and use it!
There’s no reason to go it alone. We live in an age where technology is built to help us become more efficient and to empower us to accomplish our goals more effectively. When it comes to investing for your future, you have a lot of options that can simplify the process and make sticking to a plan a lot simpler.

With the Beanstox investment app, for example, you can set up automatic deposits to start sticking to your plan. Additionally, the interactive dashboard allows you to see the progress you’ve made towards your goals, which can give you the motivation you need to press on confidently.

Dedicate a specific amount and stick to it

“I’ll throw in a few bucks here and there when I can.” While this commonly uttered phrase means well, it also usually means you’re not going to get very far with your investment plans. Choose an amount that you are comfortable with and capable of regularly investing, and stick to it. If you need to start with a smaller amount to build the habit, that’s okay.

Read some books

Sometimes you need to look a little deeper when it comes to changing how you approach commitment. If you feel like you need a little extra help, there are plenty of quality books out there on committing to investing, commitment in general, and self-help resources. Make sure the book isn’t one just giving you more plans and that it actually focuses on committing to the plans you already have. Some popular books on the subject include, for example, Sidetracked, and Atomic Habits.

Set a reminder in your calendar to invest $100 every week

Beanstox simplifies the routine of investing regularly. Kevin O’Leary, Chairman, co-owner and cofounder of Beanstox, advocates trying to invest at least $100 every week. But what happens if you can’t remember to do that? You can set a reminder on your calendar; or, the Beanstox app allows you to set up automatic deposits to your Beanstox investment account.

But what happens if you don’t know where to invest the money? Beanstox handles this for you as well. It really is the perfect marriage of convenience and technology to help you commit to the process.

Use friends and family as resources

A common theme you may be seeing here is not to go it alone. And while technology is probably the strongest partner you can have on this journey, your friends and family can also help. If you know someone who has good financial habits or is great at sticking to commitments, ask for help. Ask them for tips, or ask them to hold you accountable.

Your Next Step

At this point, you’ve got the resources you need to start and stick to your financial journey. If you’re looking for a next step, we’d highly encourage you to check out the Beanstox investment app, as it’s designed to help build great habits.