“Manifesting” is a term that gets thrown around a lot on Facebook and TikTok these days. To manifest something is to imagine a scenario and then focus on bringing it into your life until it eventually does. Sounds like magic, but it really isn’t! That’s why you need a financial vision board–let me explain.

You can’t work towards something you want if you don’t know what you want in the first place. This is why you need to define and visualize your goals. Forbes recommends writing down your goals in a journal, but you can go even further. You can make something called a vision board, which is a visualization of everything you want. You might be thinking, “Who would do something like this?” Well, for starters, Oprah Winfrey herself.

What is a financial vision board?

A vision board is a collage of photos and phrases that help you visualize your goals. It can be any kind of life goal that you may have, such as getting married or starting your own business. Vision boards, like people’s goals, will vary from person to person.

A financial vision board is a specific kind of vision board that helps you visualize your money goals. It can have photos of nice houses and pretty gardens if your financial goal is to be a homeowner. Your financial vision board is all about your goals and where you want to be financially.

Here are 15 simple steps you can follow to make your first financial vision board:

Start with a vision

Before you can even make a financial vision board, you’ll need a vision. Ask yourself: “What financial goals do you want to achieve?” and “By when do you want to achieve those goals?” This will help you clarify what you want when it comes to your money. When you put a date on your goal, it becomes more real.

Write down your goals

Now that you know your goals, write them down and visualize them in your mind’s eye. Even writing them in your notes app will help you when it’s time to make your financial vision board. Here are some examples of common financial goals that people tend to have:

Hitting a certain net worth by a set age

Financial goals should be time-bound. If you give yourself too much time to achieve something, you’ll get lazy and stop working towards it. Setting an age timer for your goals will be a good challenge, and is an excellent way to keep yourself on track.

Being debt-free

Do you want a life where the only thing deducted from your paycheck every other week is taxes? That’s the debt-free life. Without debt, you’ll feel like you’re in complete ownership of your money. You can put more money towards your savings, investments, and fun experiences.

Being debt-free should be one of your financial goals. Here’s an article of mine showing you why you should work towards being debt-free.

Being a homeowner

Homeownership is a goal that you’ve probably thought of once or twice. Who wouldn’t want a fancy dream home with everything you’ve ever wanted, like a pool or backyard?

These are some examples of financial goals that you might want to work towards. If you want more, you should check out my article here.

Gather the materials for your financial vision board

If you’ve ever made a collage, you’ll know what you need. If not, then you’ll just need the following:

Scissors

These will be used for cutting out photos and quotes.

Adhesive

Once you have your cutouts, you’ll stick them to the board. Stickers and tape will do just fine. I advise against using glue or paste though, as things can get messy.

Illustration board

You’ll need some sort of board to serve as the base for your vision.

Old magazines and newspapers

Making a financial vision board with old magazines and newspapers is inexpensive and easy. Old Cosmo or Vogue magazines usually have great images for a financial vision board. 

Printer

You might have a very specific financial goal that you can’t just find in any old magazine. Printing images online can be a great, albeit a bit more costly, alternative to using cutouts.

Find images that represent your financial goals

Once you have a goal and all the materials, it’s time for the fun part–making the financial vision board! Look through your old magazines, newspapers, and the internet for images that can represent your financial goals.

If your goal is net worth, numbers are fine. I like to use luxury brand logos like Louis Vuitton and Gucci to symbolize my net worth. If I have the net worth to buy these brands without checking the price tag, I’ve made it.

You might want to use photos of what your debt is stopping you from having if you want to be debt free. For many people, debt stops them from having a family or taking a trip to the Bahamas.

Dreaming of homeownership is a lot more fun if you can visualize your dream home with a financial vision board. You can add things you’ve always pictured your dream home having, like a pool or a garden. It’s a lot easier if you have home and interior design magazines lying around. Pinterest is also a great inspiration tool; you can print out photos you find online.

Hang your board somewhere you’ll see frequently

When you have a vision, you need to remind yourself of it often. Without constant reminders, you’ll lose sight and eventually forget your goals. Keep your finished financial vision board somewhere you’ll often be, like in your working space, to stay focused on your goals. That’s what Homer Simpson did!

Alternatively, you can use a digital financial vision board

If the idea of making a physical vision board doesn’t appeal to you, that’s okay. If you still want to make a vision board but without the work of cutting out photos, there’s an alternative. You can instead choose to make a digital vision board using apps like Photoshop or Canva. All you have to do is save and copy images online. You can even put your vision board on your screensaver so you’ll see it every time you open your laptop!

Make it happen!

Now that you’ve made your financial vision board, it’s time to make it a reality! Whatever your financial goal is, you need to take the proper steps to achieve it. That means grinding at work, making suitable investments, and saving wherever you can. If you make all the money moves, you’re bound to reach your financial goals in no time!

You should always be looking for new ways to save or earn money. That’s why you should join the money squad! As a member, you’ll receive exclusive financial advice sent weekly via phone! Signing up is absolutely free and takes just a few seconds, so sign up today!