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It’s always tempting to seek out “quick fixes”. Whether within our physical health, financial health, or anything in between, it would be nice to have a simple and easy solution. While we often see promises of quick fixes, what’s on the surface doesn’t always represent the full truth. Those ads that lead with the promise of “losing 10 pounds in 10 days” or “get rich quick with this simple trick” make big promises but often fall short in executing on them.
Fad diets physically and fad financial strategies have a lot in common— they offer appealing promises of fast results. Those results, however, often fail to stick around, giving you unsustainable approaches to reach your goals— often meaning you’ll end up back where you started in the first place.
THE APPEAL AND PROBLEMS OF THE QUICK FIX
The appeal of fad diets lies within the promise of immediate gratification— something that is becoming more and more of a desire in all facets of life. While an immediate fix sounds great, it’s often unrealistic and unsustainable. With promises of gaining muscle fast, losing weight quick, getting rich quick, or paying off debt at lighting speed— it’s no wonder that these fad fixes are desirable! However, these fixes that promise rapid results aren’t always healthy or sustainable for our bodies or our wallets.
Short-Term Results for Long-Term Goals
One issue with fad diets and financial strategies that often arises is the idea that a short-term fix will help a long-term goal. While they may promise to help you shed pounds quickly or get rich fast, the second you stop using the diet or strategy you end up back where you started. Any shortcut to a goal has alternative side effects.
Unsustainable Paths
Most fad diets consist of unsustainable practices that are impossible to maintain long-term. This is why most nutrition experts suggest implementing sustainable, small changes to your current lifestyle. Similarly, some financial shortcuts suggest unsustainable practices to achieve the goal. Quick fixes like skimping on essentials or making risky investments can negatively impact your quality of life and even put you in a worse financial position.
IF FAD FIXES DON’T WORK, WHAT DOES?
If fad fixes don’t work for our wallet, what does? It might just be consistent, intentional, and sustainable changes that foster positive habit changes. But what does this look like?
Setting Realistic Goals
While fad fixes promise astronomical results in a short amount of time, that’s often not a sustainable approach to reaching goals or making change within our finances. Whether you want to build wealth, pay down debt, or anything in between, creating realistic goals for your current financial journey is vital. This includes a realistic timeline of expectations for when you will reach these goals.
Make Sustainable Progress
Just as it’s important to set realistic goals, it’s vital to ensure the process you take to getting there includes sustainable practices. Instead of viewing it as one huge goal you have to tackle, consider breaking it down and recognizing the small, consistent actions you’re taking that will eventually produce the “big” results you desire to see! This requires a commitment to the journey and patience along the way as long-term success isn’t always obvious in the middle of working towards it.
While it can be tempting to want to go for immediate results and quick fixes, long-term results and worthwhile change often require commitment and patience. Just as sustainable nutrition and fitness habits foster a healthy lifestyle, disciplined financial practices foster financial health. Consider taking the time to build healthy financial habits that will last instead of chasing a quick fix. By doing this, you’ll live a healthier and wealthier life!
