I'm not much for financial dreams

At the risk of alienating, well, everyone, I've never understood the whole financial dream movement. I think it's a weird abstract practice that is fed by weak financial services marketing. "What's your dream? Tell me your dream. I need to know your dream." Stop. We're all much smarter and better than this. To me, a dream is goal that you never intend on acting on. Sure, we can split hairs on what pursuing your dreams looks like, but I've found that people are less likely to attack a financial goal if it's classified as a dream.

Some may argue that a dream is a goal that you don't possibly have the means to accomplish. While that's a reasonable explanation, that seems more like a nightmare to me. Sometimes I think the whole dream movement is perpetuated in an effort to extend classism. Consider some commonly expressed dreams and by how making them a goal, people actually get there.

I dream of owning a home someday

Stop dreaming. It's slowing you down. Do stuff that moves you closer to this goal. Accumulate a downpayment. Demonstrate the ability to use credit responsibility. And then look for homes within your budget.

I dream of opening a business someday

Cool. Work on your skills. Learn the trade. Start small. Get the hang of it, and then step on the gas. It's incredibly easy to start a business. It's really hard to succeed at business, but that has nothing to do with a dream.

I dream of sending my children to college

Just make it a goal. Save money.

I dream of moving