This year, we’re going to work on building our best financial & most well-rounded self. By following our few simple to-dos each month, you’ll be well on your way! So take advantage of the freezing temps and let’s kick off January right:
Evaluate your Goals
What do you want to accomplish this year? Whether they’re financial goals like “max out my IRA” or “start an emergency fund” to something more personal like “cook healthier meals”, write them down. People who write down their goals are 23 times more likely to complete them. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to post it somewhere you’ll see every day.
Create a Budget
Analyze your earnings and expenses. Honestly evaluate where your money is going and how much debt you have. Decide how you’d like to change your budget based on the goals you’ve set for yourself. There are lots of free budgeting tools out there that can help. Just be weary of some of them, who sell your information and fill your inbox with solicitations. Our free account aggregate program is called uni$ource and let’s you create goals and adjust them to your lifestyle without any third party interference.
>> Read Beginners Guide to Budgeting
Consolidate Your Debt
If the holidays weren’t kind to your wallet, look into your options. If it’s looking like you’ll be making payments to several lenders each month, consider consolidating your loans into one payment. Check out The Amazing Debt Consolidation Show going on now at West Community. Ask how we can help you today!
Start Saving
Maybe you want to save for a house or the weather has you dreaming of a great summer escape—now that you’ve figured out your goals and assessed your budget, start saving for them! Open a separate savings accounts and have the money automatically deposited into it each paycheck. If you never have a chance to see it, you won’t be tempted to spend it.
So this is our starting off point to getting Financially Fit this year! Use your time wisely this month (the occasional snow day doesn’t hurt) and let’s make the most of our money together. Now I want to hear from you. Do you think this is sustainable? Are you already on top of these and have tips that would be beneficial to our readers? Tell us in the comments.
