Money goals are not just about numbers — they’re about building a life that feels right. Financial goals help you create that life intentionally, not accidentally.
In the AVM Spending Plan, the second step — Visualize — helps you see where you truly want your money to take you. Once you create a clear mental picture of your financial future, motivation and discipline become natural, not forced.
Let’s explore how to visualize your ideal financial life, set realistic and meaningful goals, and connect money with purpose — so that every euro you earn and spend moves you closer to freedom.
Why Visualization Matters in Financial Planning
Visualization is the bridge between thinking about change and creating it. When you visualize your financial goals, you give direction to your money and focus to your efforts.
In financial planning, this means imagining what your ideal future looks and feels like — before you start budgeting or saving.
When you clearly see your destination, every choice starts to make sense. You stop reacting to short-term desires and begin building toward long-term fulfillment.
Your money mindset plays a key role here. If you see money as stressful or limited, it’s difficult to plan ahead. But when you view money as a supportive tool that can serve your goals and values, you gain a sense of empowerment and direction.
Learn more in The AVM Spending Plan: Financial Planning Made Simple.
Define What “Financial Freedom” Means to You
Financial freedom looks different for everyone. For one person, it means being debt-free. For another, it means working fewer hours or traveling more.
Take a moment to reflect:
“What does financial peace look like for me in five years?”
Write down your answer. Maybe it’s living without credit card debt, or finally having a safety net that lets you sleep peacefully at night.
The key is to make your financial goals deeply personal — so that they feel meaningful, not just “responsible.” Your financial goals should always reflect what peace and stability mean to you personally.
Download the free AVM Spending Plan Worksheet to define your version of financial freedom.
Visualize Your Financial Goals — Not Just Your Bank Balance
Once your definition of freedom is clear, anchor it in your everyday vision — let your ideal day guide your numbers.
Money goals make sense only when they fit the life you want to live.
Before you set numbers, visualize your days:
How do you want to spend your time? Who do you want beside you? What kind of work or freedom do you want?
Maybe your dream lifestyle includes:
- Working fewer hours and spending more time outdoors
- Building a cozy home with your partner
- Having the freedom to travel twice a year
- Supporting your children’s or grandchildren’s education
- Starting a creative business or side project
These pictures matter — because they give meaning to your money.
Once you can see your ideal day, you can translate it into financial goals that truly feel right.
“You’re not chasing money — you’re creating a life that feels rich in every way.”
Set SMART Financial Goals That Feel Authentic
Now that you have a vision, it’s time to turn it into clear, actionable goals.
The SMART method is simple but powerful:
- Specific – define exactly what you want.
- Measurable – know when you’ve achieved it.
- Achievable – set goals that stretch you but stay realistic.
- Relevant – make sure each goal supports your life vision.
- Time-bound – give yourself a clear deadline.
Here are some examples to get you started:
- Short-term (1 year): build a €1000 emergency fund. Ideally, aim for savings that cover 3–6 months of your income or living costs.
- Mid-term (3–5 years): pay off credit cards or car loans, save for a vacation, or plan a wedding.
- Long-term (10+ years): save for retirement or financial independence. Long-term goals can include paying off your mortgage, buying a home, or saving to renovate a space that feels truly yours.
Each of these steps transforms abstract wishes into a solid roadmap for your financial future.
Read next: Analyze Your Finances: How to Understand Where Your Money Really Goes.
Visualize Your Retirement Lifestyle — and the Money You’ll Need
One of the most powerful parts of financial visualization is picturing your future freedom.
Retirement isn’t just about stopping work — it’s about designing a life you love and knowing how much you’ll need to support it.
Start by asking yourself:
- Where do I want to live?
- What kind of lifestyle do I imagine — simple, adventurous, or comfortable?
- How many years might I want to live from my savings?
- What kind of monthly income would make me feel safe and happy?
Once you have that picture, translate it into numbers.
For example:
- If you imagine needing €2,000 per month in today’s value for 25 years, that’s roughly €600,000 total (before inflation).
- If you invest regularly in ETFs with an average 7% annual return, you can use a retirement calculator to estimate how much to save monthly to reach that goal.
Example:
If you’re 45 and haven’t invested for retirement yet, and want to retire at 65 with €600,000, investing about €1,200 per month in ETFs at 7% return could get you there.
Illustrative estimate only; markets vary — always consider fees, taxes, and inflation.
Use the AVM Spending Plan Worksheet or your favorite online calculator to visualize how your investments can grow over time. Seeing your progress in numbers turns a dream into a measurable vision.
Explore more: Modify Your Habits: Small Financial Changes That Make a Big Difference.
“Retirement isn’t a finish line — it’s the freedom to live life on your own terms. Visualize it now, so you can build it step by step.”
Visual Tools to Strengthen Your Money Mindset
Let’s bring visualization into your daily routine.
Create reminders of your goals using simple tools like:
- a money vision board with inspiring images and affirmations,
- a digital goal tracker or progress app,
- an Excel spreadsheet for clear overview, or
- a simple progress jar where you see your growth over time.
The more you see your progress, the stronger your motivation becomes.
Visualization transforms willpower into habit — and habit into results.
Get the free AVM Goal Tracker (included in the AVM Spending Plan Worksheet).
Related: The 50/30/20 Rule Explained.
Align Your Goals with Your Values
Numbers alone don’t create happiness — alignment does. That’s why your financial goals should always reflect your lifestyle and values. Aligning your financial goals with your core values makes them easier to maintain long term.
If your top value is security, focus on your emergency fund.
If it’s freedom, invest for long-term independence.
If it’s creativity, save for experiences or projects that inspire you.
“Visualize who you want to become — not just what you want to own.”
When your money supports your values, every goal feels lighter, more joyful, and easier to sustain.
The “Love It / Like It / Want It” Lists — Choose What Truly Matters
When you think about your future, not everything you want deserves your money — but what you love always does.
The “Love It / Like It / Want It” reflection helps you spend and save with joy, not guilt. It’s a mindful way to reconnect with your values and make sure your time, money, and energy go toward what truly fulfills you.
Purpose
To help you recognize and organize where your resources go — and whether your financial choices reflect your real priorities, values, and desires.
How to Create Your “Love It / Like It / Want It” Lists
Take a few minutes to reflect and divide your spending into three simple categories. This exercise can change the way you see your finances — and yourself.
1. LOVE IT LIST
“Things that light you up and truly align with your values.”
These are the experiences, activities, or purchases that bring deep satisfaction and meaning.
Money and time spent here are investments, not expenses.
Examples:
- Travel that reconnects you with nature
- Cooking healthy meals for your family
- Books, learning, and self-growth
- Time with loved ones
- Creating a cozy, peaceful home environment
If something belongs on your “Love It List,” never cut it from your budget — just optimize other areas to make more room for it.
2. LIKE IT LIST
“Nice to have, but not essential.”
These things bring temporary pleasure but aren’t vital for your happiness or long-term goals.
They’re fine to keep — as long as they don’t overshadow what truly matters.
Examples:
- Eating out occasionally
- Shopping for clothes
- Streaming subscriptions
- Coffee to-go
- New gadgets
“Like It” items are okay in moderation — just make sure they don’t take attention (or money) away from your “Love It” priorities.
3. WANT IT LIST
“Things you think you want — but don’t truly love or need.”
These often come from impulse, social pressure, or trends. When you slow down and reflect, you’ll notice they add little real joy or meaning to your life.
Examples:
- Trendy items you rarely use
- Fancy memberships
- Upgrades you don’t need
- “Someday” goals that don’t match your values
Your “Want It List” reveals where you can make space — for the time, money, and energy you’d rather redirect toward your “Love It” life.
Identify What You Truly Love
Write down the areas of life that genuinely make you feel alive.
Your “Love It List” usually includes just a couple of core themes — two or three areas that deeply resonate with you.
Here are 10 common areas to explore:
- Health and fitness
- Home comfort and beauty
- Clothing and personal style
- Travel and new experiences
- Learning and self-growth
- Relationships and memorable moments
- Creativity and hobbies
- Nature and outdoor time
- Giving and contribution
- Peace of mind and simplicity
Now, look at your recent spending.
How much of it supports your “Love It” areas — and how much goes to “Like It” or “Want It”?
Most people don’t actually spend on what they love —
not because they can’t, but because they’ve forgotten what truly lights them up.
The Love It List brings you back to yourself.
Once you see what fills you up, you’ll naturally spend — and live — differently.
Why We Spend on “Like It” and “Want It” Instead of “Love It”
Understanding why we make certain choices helps us change them more easily.
Here are some common reasons people lose focus on what they love:
- Instant gratification.
Quick purchases feel rewarding right away, while “Love It” spending often requires patience and planning. - Lack of clarity.
Many people don’t truly know what they love — they’ve never stopped to define it. - Social influence.
Advertising and comparison culture push us to want what others have, not what genuinely matters to us. - Emotional comfort.
Shopping or small treats can fill emotional gaps like stress or loneliness, but the feeling fades quickly. - Limiting money beliefs.
Old patterns like “I shouldn’t spend on myself” or “Money is only for survival, not joy” block intentional choices. - No mindful spending habits.
We’re taught how to save, but not how to spend with awareness and purpose.
Bring It All Together
Now, review your last month’s spending.
Mark each purchase as “Love It,” “Like It,” or “Want It.”
You’ll immediately see patterns — and opportunities to shift your focus.
The goal isn’t to restrict yourself.
It’s to redirect your energy and resources toward what truly adds value and meaning to your life.
“When you know what you love, saving becomes easier — because you’re saying yes to what truly fulfills you.”
Stay Motivated and Adjust Along the Way
Visualization is not a one-time act — it’s a lifelong process. Review your financial goals regularly to stay on track and inspired. Your priorities, lifestyle, and financial situation will change, and that’s okay.
Review your goals monthly or quarterly. Use a financial journal or progress tracker to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what still feels right.
As you move into the next AVM phase — Modify — you’ll learn how to turn your financial vision into everyday habits and actions.
Continue with: AVM Money Flow Worksheet to plan your next steps.
Conclusion
Visualizing your financial future isn’t about perfection — it’s about clarity and confidence.
When you know what you want, why you want it, and how it fits your life, your goals become easier to achieve.
Take 10 minutes today to visualize your best financial future — and write down the first three steps to get there.
✨ Download your free AVM Spending Plan Worksheet + Goal Tracker and start designing a financial life that feels as good as it looks.
Download free AVM spending plan.
