As we enter the new year, it’s prime time for deciding (and sometimes publicly declaring) all kinds of New Year’s resolutions, including about finances. While deciding to make smart financial decisions and increase your financial health is important, New Year’s resolutions tend to be unrealistic or fizzle out because people take on too much. We have compiled a list of manageable and realistic financial New Year’s resolutions so you can be successful in achieving them!
1. Cut Small Amounts of Spending
Declaring you will stop all eating out or unnecessary Amazon purchases is likely not a sustainable life choice–at least, not right away. Baby steps are the key to making real behavioral changes. There are ways to cut spending that don’t involve making major changes to your lifestyle. For example, with so many streaming services, subscription boxes, and magazine subscriptions out there, why not pick one or two to give up? You may not think such small amounts of savings will make a difference, but they do add up over time, and you’d be surprised what kind of savings habits you can build by starting small.
2. Become More Financially Aware
Knowledge is power, and that includes knowledge about your financial situation. It’s easy to lose track of just how much money you are spending and what you are spending it on. You may be surprised at places where you can cut back or reallocate expenses once you learn where your money is actually going. Take a few months and keep careful track of each expense, no matter how small. It’s likely certain patterns will arise and give you valuable information on how you may be able to better manage your monthly expenses.
3. Save For Retirement
It’s never too early to save for retirement, and even if you already have a retirement account, it’s a good idea to see if you can afford to put away even more than you are now. Or perhaps you can further diversify your savings portfolio, make some more investments in addition to savings. If you’ve never met with a financial adviser, that could be an important first step to building up your savings for the future.
Financial New Year’s resolutions can run the gamut between major actions and small steps. These three activities may not be earth shattering or make a drastic change to your financial situation, but they are important first steps toward improving your financial health and, most importantly, they are simple enough to be achievable. They say slow and steady wins the race, and the experts at DeSantis, Kiefer, Shall & Sarcone can help you get there.
