27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27–33 (ESV)

Finish building your first monthly budget.

In long distance activities like hiking, running, or biking the first mile feels TERRIBLE. But you have to keep two things in mind. 1) You have to make some choices in the beginning in light of the distance. 2) You keep the goal in mind, knowing that if you just keep going, you’re going to get there. Your budget is the tool you need to see your goals a long way off. Use it to make some adjustments that may not feel good now, but will pay off big later.