Do you have a goal or is it a dream? A dream is vague. "I want to take a trip to the mainland." "In a few years we hope to buy a house." "I want to send my child to college." These are dreams.

A goal is specific, achievable, written and has dates for beginning and ending. "By the end of the year 2005, we will have $2000 that we need to visit Disneyland by saving $14 per week."

Just answer Four Questions

1 WHAT? What do I need or want?

v Brainstorm and make a list. Now, go back over each item and ask yourself, is this a "need" or a "want"? Be aware that sometimes individuals and households confuse the two. Needs are "essential" to basic living such as food, shelter, health, and clothing. Wants tend to be desires which are "nice to have" that you feel enhance your quality of life beyond the basics or what is sufficient. Pants are a need, designer pants are a want. You must decide based on your values, so be honest.

v Estimate the monetary cost of each item. (This will probably require further research later.)

v Prioritize the importance to you as an individual and household. It's difficult if not impossible to obtain all that we desire. After all, our resources--human, material, and natural--are limited. See if the Needs and Wants Table helps you sort things out.

2 WHEN? When will this be done?

v A goal must have a timeline, otherwise it will continue to be a dream of "someday". Can the selected goal be achieved within a year (short-term), five years (intermediate-term) or longer (long-term)? An individual or household often establishes some of each, but being as specific as possible will assist you in making them a reality.

v Set a beginning date. When will I start? Month? Day? Year?

v Set the end date. When will I complete this? Month? Day? Year?

3 WHO? Who will be involved? Just you? You and your partner? The entire household?

v A goal that affects only one person is easier to achieve than one that involves a cooperating partner or household.

v Those which require others to participate must be agreed upon if the plan is to succeed.

v It is important to determine who is willing to participate, what will each person do and clearly agree upon the sacrifices that must be made.

4 HOW? How will this be done?

v Sometimes a goal might appear to be difficult to achieve because of its magnitude. Take time to consider the following when completing the "Goals Table" :

• How can this goal be achieved?
• What options do I have?
• How much time will it really take?
• What am I willing to do to achieve this goal?
• Is this goal realistic?

v Divide and conquer

• Set up an action plan that breaks up the big picture into smaller parts in order to progress slowly, but surely, a little at a time.
• Use a calendar to write down the progression of steps into a timetable. Each step then becomes measurable so that you can see if you are on track or need to make adjustments. Divide and conquer!