Popular New Year’s resolutions include spending less, saving more and paying off debt. However, these are the most vulnerable to being abandoned once reality sets in and unexpected expenses occur. A setback early in the year, such as paying your credit card bills or your health insurance deductible, does not have to be a major setback.
You made these resolutions. Now you have the power to change them. Making more specific resolutions than giving up can help you be in a better financial place next year. Here are some ways to get on track.
Make your goal more specific and real
Although broad resolutions such as “I want to save more” are a good starting point, it can be difficult to keep track of your progress. A specific goal, such as a wedding, debt repayment or buying a home, can help you set financial goals. It will give you something tangible to work towards.
Yasmeen Alshabasy is a Los Angeles-based clinical assistant. “My goals this year are more tangible,” she says. “They can be measured, quantified, rather than the symbolic plans that I’ve made in the past, such as gaining financial freedom,” she says. She also has a specific savings goal for the year, and will use an Excel spreadsheet to track her weekly budget.
Be realistic about your goals and ensure they don’t add stress. While it may be tempting to set a high savings goal, keep in mind your regular income and expenses.
Clayton Becker, a University of California, Los Angeles Ph.D. student, says, “Setting achievable goals is really important to me.” His fiancee and he have established their first financial goal together: to save for their spring 2024 wedding. “Trying to do too many things too quickly is going to make it difficult to keep up with the pace — you’ll burn .”
Schedule regular check-ins
It can be difficult to check in on your finances once a year. You can keep your finances on track by setting up monthly, quarterly, or even monthly meetings with yourself and your financial planner – if you have one – to help you set goals and make adjustments if needed.
Becker, his fiancee and others are planning a mid-year check in.
He said, “Knowing what’s coming takes mental weight off.” “We are trying to save a significant amount but not enough that we can’t adjust if we discover we’re behind half the year .”
Pick a time that allows you to regroup. It should be long enough to feel like you have made progress, but not too long to make it impossible to pivot.
Let go of some of the work
It can be difficult to keep track of your financial progress throughout a year. You might consider automating your money goals with a monthly transfer that you can set up and forget.
Becker says, “We have set up automatic deposits to our joint savings account.” “This way, we don’t have to make active choices about how much to save each month.
You could make monthly payments for credit card debt that are higher than the minimums. It can help reduce financial stress and increase your chances of reaching your goals.
An expert may be worth it if you are responsible for large investments. A registered, licensed fiduciary should be paid a fee. This means that they do not make any commissions from selling financial products. A certified financial planner (or CFP) is a good place for you to start.
Ashley Porras is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based business developer at a biotech firm. She says, “It’s worthwhile for me to hire a wealth management company to manage my investment portfolio — especially considering the economic climate.” Her primary financial goal for this year is to protect her savings and reduce future losses.
An automated financial advisor could help you manage your portfolio, offer guidance and provide advice for a lower cost.
Be flexible
It is tempting to make drastic financial changes each January, and then set yourself extreme resolutions. Unexpected expenses can make it difficult to stick to a more flexible and forgiving approach.
Instead of completely eliminating your wants, set monthly limits on “wants”. You can roll discretionary spending over to next month if you exceed the limit. Don’t lose sight of your goals after a setback. Overspending $100 is better than spending $1,000. It takes effort to achieve your goals.
Porras states that flexibility and adaptability are essential. It’s better to be proactive and create solutions than to accept defeat .”
This article was written and published originally by The Associated Press by NerdWallet.