Eliminate emotional spending: In the heat of the moment, is tempting to go out and indulge in what makes us feel better. Often times, these indulgences cost us money. Next time you are having an emotional climax, take a pause to note what you are feeling. Think of what things you can do that would make you feel better without requiring your wallet.

Pay off your credit card debt: Take a moment and ask yourself how much you are paying to borrow money. Is it worth it? Ask yourself if you are ok helping someone else reach their dreams (the bank employee) instead of your own?

Start planning for retirement ASAP: If you haven’t started, you should. Try working with a financial professional and completing a personalized financial profile. This can help determine how much you need to start saving in order to reach your financial goals, such as retirement, education savings for your children and other goals.

Prepare for the unknown: Don’t be naive and tell yourself nothing bad will happen. Sudden accidents or unexpected critical health problems happen every day to those who least expect it. Save up a reserve fund and get the appropriate insurance you would need to cover an emergency. You don’t want to be caught off guard and stuck with no way out.

Sometimes, the biggest challenge to making change in our life is our awareness of what we are doing currently. Take time to pause and examine yourself and notice your actions. Not only will you get a deeper sense of your own identity but it will also help you identify areas for improvement.