YOUR FIVE YEAR LIFE PLAN

“A DREAM WITHOUT A PLAN IS JUST A WISH.”

We all know the drill: if we want to lose weight, we outline those weight loss goals and how we’ll reach that target weight through eating healthy foods and exercise; savings goals are set by determining how much of our monthly income to set aside; we may create a plan to improve our class grades by meeting with a tutor once a week. These are all planned, intentional actions - and your overall life is no different. Want to own a home by age 30? Plan it. Want to go to college? Plan it. Want to become certified in a trade? Plan it.

Don’t let planning intimidate you. Start simply, by writing down 3 goals you’d like to work towards in the next several years (“buy a car”, “move out of my parents’ house”, “become a certified and licensed electrician”). Then, for each goal, break it down even further. (“1. Determine options for pre-apprenticeship training, sign up for class by June 15th. 2. Create a budget for paying for class while working part time. 3. Research apprenticeship options, with a target to begin apprenticeship by January 1st.”)

As you move forward with executing your plan, timelines and priorities will undoubtedly shift. The important thing is to have an outline which can be referenced (and should be reviewed, regularly) as you progress and work toward your goals.

How do i know Which careers are right for me?

Finding the right career can take time, but one way to determine the right path is to understand what motivates you, and which qualities you possess when it comes to both work and personal life. There are a few tools which can help to map out your personality profile. We like the Predictive Index, which offers a free assessment.

You may also want to check out the classic career book, What Color Is Your Parachute?, which walks you through every step of the process, from designing a resume to networking and figuring out which careers make sense for your personality style. Do What You Are and So Good They Can’t Ignore You are also fantastic reads for career-path seekers.

How do i find projected earnings for jobs and careers?

Projected earnings vary by location Looking for a job in the skilled trades? Check out the 30 highest paying vocational jobs. Payscale also has decent info on salaries in different fields. Sites like Glassdoor also offer insights into salaries in different areas of the country and for different companies.

What degrees or certifications are needed for different jobs?

Each job or trade may require certain degrees or certifications, and may vary state by state. Real Work Matters has pretty good information on how much vocational schools can cost, as well as how to choose a trade, technical, or vocational program and financial aid opportunities for those programs. CollegeGrad allows for searching different jobs and vocations, as well as providing a one-stop-shop for job descriptions, salary info, industry projections and more. Visit CollegeCalc to calculate the costs of colleges across the US.

There are plenty of free budget templates out there. Mint, the budgeting and expense tracking tool, provides free templates tailored to student and college budgets.

Looking for savings? Check out community colleges, where you can save an average of over $7,000 per year. And as always, finance expert Dave Ramsey has a few ideas on how to cut costs on every day expenditures.

Are you a high school student interested in career development? Our Career Academy students build real-world skills while earning high school credits, PLUS access to YE University which requires each students to create a Five Year Life Plan. Learn more about Career Academy - applications are open now!