I recently had a conversation with my friend about Weight Watchers that went a little like this:
Friend: Ugh, I could never join Weight Watchers, I don’t want to share my feelings or weight loss trials in front of a bunch of people!
Me: I would hate that too…I never share at the meetings I go to.
Friend: I like doing things on my own.
Me: Me too.
Friend: I should be able to do this on my own.
Me: I feel like that too…
Friend: So why do you go to Weight Watchers meetings?
Me: Because that hasn’t been true for me… and regardless of how I feel about meetings, Weight Watchers helps.
I realized after our chat that the same thing could be said (most likely) about AA and other group support meetings…does anyone really LIKE the idea of outside accountability? I know I don’t…but by removing my feelings about it from my decision criteria, I’ve actually made a lot of healthy changes over the past year or so, all attributable to an increased awareness raised by attending Weight Watchers meetings.
The Weight Watchers mindset with money
I often joke that I am the Weight Watchers of money—that I believe that a consistent, balanced, non-judgmental approach to money (and weight loss) create more success than deprivation and self recrimination (That’s why I created Money Boss). Here are the things I believe about Weight Watchers and health that I think apply to money too:
You might not be a joiner, but you’ll appreciate the benefits.
I am an introvert, so it’s actually really hard for me to show up to a group thing and not know anyone. But I finally did it with Weight Watchers. I’m still not a gung ho attendee (my new friend and I giggle and whisper at each other during the meeting sometimes), but I still make it a priority to attend.
So even if you don’t feel like a “group” person, if you haven’t been reaching your financial goals, it might make sense to do it anyway.
Ongoing reminders mean you don’t lose sight of your goal.
Even the low-level accountability of a weekly check in has done wonders for my progress. No one beats me up if I gain weight, but knowing that I am going to check in with someone else has kept me focused more than a few times over the past year when I might have otherwise abandoned my healthy eating and exercise.
With financial goals, it’s easy to forget about them when life gets busy, you’re stressed or something else just takes priority. But if you have an ongoing reminder of your financial goals, you make the decisions to adhere to them (or reject them) more frequently, so it forces you to recognize your commitment or redefine it.
You don’t have to be completely focused to have success.
Having a regular check in and assessment through Weight Watchers actually helps me plan splurges more effectively, so they are conscious (and consequently, more enjoyable).
With money, it’s easy to waste…but so much more fun to anticipate a reward or splurge to balance out hard work in other areas. Accountability doesn’t mean it’s restrictive or punishing!
Build in habits that help you trend closer to your goals.
I sort of feel like Weight Watchers meetings work by osmosis…I’m not super gung ho like some attendees, who studiously write down the changes they plan to make each week. Usually I’ll mentally accept or reject each tip or idea as they lay them out for the week, but don’t plan a specific strategy to implement everything. And yet, I find myself integrating them into my routine anyway.
Just the fact I am around other people who share my fitness goals helps me act more like a fit person—so imagine what financial habits you will adopt being around other financially goal-oriented people!
You might be surprised at what a group does for you.
I know I have been. Considering how resistant I initially was to the Weight Watchers process, I’m surprised at how well it has worked for me. Accountability and support groups are never perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but if they can help move you incrementally closer to goals you would have otherwise abandoned, they are worth trying.
How are you doing on your financial goals this year? Do you need a higher level of accountability?
P.S. I am always accepting more people into my ongoing Money Boss group to help you stay accountable to your money goals…I combine it with my program that helps people think more deeply about their money blocks—read more here.
No spam. No games. Just timely, insanely useful content to help you grow your money.