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GOBankingRates’ editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services – our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines<\/a> and our products and services review methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n 20 Years<\/strong> Trusted by<\/strong> The State of Personal Finance<\/a> study from Ramsey Solutions found that 67% of Americans were either financially stable or thriving in the first quarter of 2025. But even if you\u2019re someone who doesn\u2019t have trouble paying the bills and even saving a little, you might still feel like you haven\u2019t accomplished enough in the area of personal finance<\/a>.<\/p>\n A YouTube video<\/a> from money expert George Kamel discussed 11 small to large money milestones that show you\u2019re crushing it. Find out below which financial wins you have to celebrate and why they matter.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Also Kamel said don\u2019t obsess over your net worth \u2014 here\u2019s why.<\/a><\/p>\n Cutting Up a Credit Card<\/p>\n Kamel explained that cutting up credit cards is an emotional step that leads to big changes in your life. Even though it\u2019s challenging at first, no longer using credit cards puts you on a path to avoid burdensome debt and interest payments and build more wealth<\/a>. It also pushes you to spend more responsibly.<\/p>\n Making Your First Budget<\/p>\n This small step helps you spend more intentionally and have a better understanding of where your money is going. Kamel suggested a zero-based budget that requires allocating every dollar<\/a> to a specific use, such as a spending category, debt payoff or savings and investment goals. He also highlighted the free EveryDollar app, which is helpful for beginners.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Saving Anything\u00a0<\/p>\n A Pew Research Center<\/a> survey found that 51% of Americans didn\u2019t have a three-month emergency fund<\/a>. Some people have nothing at all, so having any savings is a worthy milestone that gives you some financial security.<\/p>\n Kamel encouraged getting used to regularly saving cash and working toward a $1,000 emergency fund, which he said you shouldn\u2019t focus on fully funding until you\u2019re debt-free.<\/p>\n Being Completely Debt-Free<\/p>\n \u201cBeing debt-free is a big one because it\u2019s the point where you stop paying for the past and you start building for the future,\u201d Kamel said.<\/p>\n This milestone frees you of interest, monthly payments and some stress. Instead, you can focus on getting a return on your money. If you\u2019re not there yet, consider Kamel\u2019s recommendation to use the snowball method, which involves paying off your debts from the smallest to largest.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Having a Fully-Funded Emergency Fund<\/p>\n Kamel explained that this money milestone is important for having a safety net for emergencies, such as vet bills, car repairs and home repairs.\u00a0<\/p>\n With three to six months of your expenses saved, you\u2019ll be less likely to use credit out of desperation and pay a high interest rate. The peace of mind is also worth it.<\/p>\n Paying Cash for a Car<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.gobankingrates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/icon-20.svg?webp=1&quality=75\"){kind=icon}
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