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What Do You Do When You’ve Have a Great Year?

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<p>It is that time of year again where many of your friends and family will resolve to change themselves for the better. The “new year, new me” vibe isn’t anything new. In fact, many people have become cynical of resolutions altogether. While I see how that could be easy to do, resolving to better yourself, or setting goals, is extremely helpful in life, both financially and personally. At the beginning of 2017, just one year ago, I resolved to better myself physically and financially. My credit score was around 420, I was living in a motel, and I was seriously overweight (around 280 pounds). I was spinning my wheels and needed to make a change. By February, I’d paid off the biggest piece of debt keeping me from being able to move and in April we leased an apartment. Then I started focusing on my health and continuing on my current financial path. I continued to pay off debt and started to save money. In June, I had to use all my newfound savings for a medical emergency (doesn’t that always happen?). No matter what happened, I continued to push forward. Skip to December 31, 2017, and my credit score is sitting at 650 (much better than earlier in the year). I’m also down 106 total from two years ago, 74 of which was lost in 2017. I also managed to establish some savings and established some credit for myself. When entering 2018 I was kind of flabbergasted. What do you do when you come off a good year? How do you maintain momentum?</p>::Pexels
It is that time of year again where many of your friends and family will resolve to change themselves for the better. The “new year, new me” vibe isn’t anything new. In fact, many people have become cynical of resolutions altogether. While I see how that could be easy to do, resolving to better yourself, or setting goals, is extremely helpful in life, both financially and personally.

At the beginning of 2017, just one year ago, I resolved to better myself physically and financially. My credit score was around 420, I was living in a motel, and I was seriously overweight (around 280 pounds). I was spinning my wheels and needed to make a change.

By February, I’d paid off the biggest piece of debt keeping me from being able to move and in April we leased an apartment. Then I started focusing on my health and continuing on my current financial path. I continued to pay off debt and started to save money. In June, I had to use all my newfound savings for a medical emergency (doesn’t that always happen?). No matter what happened, I continued to push forward.

Skip to December 31, 2017, and my credit score is sitting at 650 (much better than earlier in the year). I’m also down 106 total from two years ago, 74 of which was lost in 2017. I also managed to establish some savings and established some credit for myself.

When entering 2018 I was kind of flabbergasted. What do you do when you come off a good year? How do you maintain momentum?

How to Maintain Momentum

Keeping up momentum is something I’ve always associated with sports, running more specifically. I knew how to maintain and push through that way. A huge portion of that is the mentality, of course, so how do you maintain momentum when you’ve had a great year? Here are a few things I am doing to ensure my 2018 is just as successful as my 2017:

  1. Create a “did it” list. One great way to maintain momentum is creating a list of things you’ve already accomplished. By writing down the things you’ve already been able to do you can see the progress you have made. Consider keeping this list somewhere you walk by every day. When you accomplish something new, add it to the list.
  2. Set and focus on smaller goals. Instead of focusing on the fact that you need to lose 100 pounds, set a smaller weekly or monthly goal. For example, set a goal of losing 20 pounds by the end of March (a little more than six pounds per month). This makes your goal seem more attainable and it will prevent you from becoming overwhelmed.
  3. Celebrate all of your progress. Any progress you make towards your goal should be celebrated. Just be sure you celebrate it in a way that will not hinder you. For instance, many people trying to lose weight will reward themselves with some big, greasy meal. Instead, consider grabbing yourself a new outfit or piece of clothing (you’ll need it with 20 pounds gone). Financially, people oftentimes save or pay off debt just to recreate the cycle again (spending all of their money or charging their cards). Don’t let your celebration cost you your success.
  4. Make small efforts each day. You should do something small each day to push you towards your goal. If your goal is to save more money, consider taking a money challenge that has you saving a different amount each day (the 365 Day Money Challenge is great). The same goes towards other goals you’ve set for yourself. Make a small effort each day and you’ll reach your goals in no time.

Each of these steps is something to consider when you are trying to maintain momentum in your personal life. Whether it is bettering your finances, doing better at work, or losing weight, you can keep climbing and reach your goals.

Have you had to find an innovative way to maintain momentum? Share it with us in the comments. 

How to Keep Up With Your Resolutions

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<p>A lot of people spent time reflecting on last year and setting fantastic goals for 2023. While we didn’t set any hardcore New Year’s resolutions this year, many people still did. The biggest triumph of all though is being able to stick to your plans and reach those goals throughout the year. Below are a few tips on how to keep up with your resolutions (even when you lose steam).</p>::Pexels

A lot of people spent time reflecting on last year and setting fantastic goals for 2023. While we didn’t set any hardcore New Year’s resolutions this year, many people still did. The biggest triumph of all though is being able to stick to your plans and reach those goals throughout the year. Below are a few tips on how to keep up with your resolutions (even when you lose steam).

Setting Reasonable Goals

First and foremost, it is key to set reasonable goals for yourself. If your aspirations are too lofty, you may wind up running out of enthusiasm early on. Instead, focus on more obtainable, smaller goals that will help you reach the longer-term aspirations that you may have.

When setting personal goals, it is important to have a “big picture” in mind. For instance, if you are setting a debt payoff goal for the year, think about all of your financial goals, not just your debt freedom. If you want to invest, save money, and buy a home, be sure to include those things in your planning too. Be sure you are setting reasonable goals for yourself within the grand scheme of things.

Another thing many people suggest is setting SMART Goals for yourself. We discussed SMART Goals on the blog a while back, you can read more about them here. SMART Goals can help you hone in on the specifics of what you’d like to accomplish, when, and how.

Tips to Keep Up With Your Resolutions

If you find you have trouble trying to keep up with your resolutions, you’re not alone. A lot of people abandon those dreams by the end of January (seriously). However, there are a few tips you can consider to help better set you up for success.

  1. Keep your goals specific. As mentioned above, the more specific you are in your goal-setting, the more likely you will be to reach them.
  2. Make exact plans as to how you will accomplish it. You won’t reach your goals if you don’t have a plan of action.
  3. Plan for how you will cope and learn triggers. Much of the time, resolutions are about resolving bad behaviors. You should learn your triggers (i.e. spending triggers) and figure out how to cope without giving up focus.
  4. Replace bad habits with good ones. If you are an over-spender, become an over-saver.

Last but not least, pick a change you actually want to make. Many people spend time trying to reach goals they don’t truly desire. For example, people strive to live healthier lives and at the beginning of each year commit to exercising every day. That isn’t something most people want to do. Instead, you can find ways to live a healthier lifestyle (i.e. make time for outdoor activities and eat better).

No matter what, it is important not to lose faith in your goals and aspirations. Everything takes time, especially when it comes to lifelong goals. Be patient with yourself.

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Checking In With Yourself After The First Week Of The Year

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<p>Can you believe that we’ve already seen the first week of 2023 come and go? For many people, this is a hectic week. You’re getting back into your work routine after taking a break for the holidays. Most of the time, it is the same week your kids are headed back to school. The traffic is crazy. Life is crazy. Yet, we put these additional goals and resolutions on our plates. That’s why checking in with yourself is the best thing you can do to stay on track with your annual resolutions.</p>::Pexels

Can you believe that we’ve already seen the first week of 2023 come and go? For many people, this is a hectic week. You’re getting back into your work routine after taking a break for the holidays. Most of the time, it is the same week your kids are headed back to school. The traffic is crazy. Life is crazy. Yet, we put these additional goals and resolutions on our plates. That’s why checking in with yourself is the best thing you can do to stay on track with your annual resolutions.

Why Checking In Is Important

There are a plethora of reasons why checking in with yourself is important, especially when it comes to goal-setting. Believe it or not, if you don’t check in on yourself, and your mental and physical health, you won’t reach your goals. More important than that, you can pinpoint why you set those goals and how the process makes you feel.

For instance, one of my goals is to lose weight this year, like many other people. In the past, I usually fasted, cut out large food groups entirely, and went about things in an unhealthy way. Of course, I started to try and do that again this year. After checking in with myself, I knew it would not be healthy to start the year out with an extended fast. Instead, I’ve focused my time and energy on making and eating healthy meals at home this week while cutting caffeine and sugar.

Checking in allows you to step back and assess everything from how you feel to how achieving your goals will make you feel. Most of all, it ensures that you are okay every step of the way.

How To Check In With Yourself

If you’re not sure how to check in with yourself, don’t worry! There are plenty of things you can do to check in and see how you’re feeling. Here are a few things I do to unplug and check on myself.

  1. Journal. Writing things down is a great way to get them out of your head. For me, it is a good idea to write down the things that are on my mind or the things that are worrying me/weighing me down. It allows me to get those thoughts out of my head and onto paper.
  2. Practice self-care. My favorite form of self-care is a nice hot bath with a good book. This allows time to unplug and check in with my body. Plus, reading is a soothing activity for me.
  3. Assess whether or not I’m overwhelmed. I’m ambitious and I like to set a lot of goals for myself. However, this can be more detrimental than it is good. Sometimes I need to take a step back and assess whether I’m overwhelmed or not and decide right then and there what can be taken off my plate.
  4. Take it one day at a time. This is the best advice anyone can give you! Some days are going to be great, you’ll make fantastic progress and work on all the good habits you’re trying to build. Other days, it’ll be great to just get out of bed and feed yourself. That’s okay too.
  5. Do something that brings me joy. Whether it is hanging out with a friend, curling up with a good book, or just a mug of hot tea, find something that brings you joy and do that thing. It is a great way to check in and give yourself a good mental health boost.

How often are you checking in with yourself and making sure you’re okay?

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How Do You Create Reasonable Resolutions?

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<p>It's that time of year again when people vow to be better than they were throughout the previous year. I, for one, am a fan of New Year's resolutions for a number of reasons. The main reason I love the idea of resolving to do better is it gives everyone a fresh, positive outlook. As I've mentioned in the past, remaining positive has brought me a long way.</p>::Pexels

It’s that time of year again when people vow to be better than they were throughout the previous year. I, for one, am a fan of New Year’s resolutions for a number of reasons. The main reason I love the idea of resolving to do better is it gives everyone a fresh, positive outlook. As I’ve mentioned in the past, remaining positive has brought me a long way.

However, many people set goals and make resolutions that are simply not reasonable. For instance, if you have a lot of debt and little-to-no savings, it is unlikely that you will (or should) own a house by the end of the year. So, how do you go about creating reasonable resolutions?

My New Year’s Resolutions

<p>Reasonable Resolutions</p>::Pexels

As you can see above, most of my resolutions have nothing to do with our finances (and that’s okay). Cutting our debt in half this year would be a HUGE deal for us and it is totally obtainable.

The other resolutions I’ve listed here are small but extremely important for me to maintain balance. First, my goal of “hustling more” will help us achieve our debt payoff goals. The more money we bring in this year, the more debts we can pay off. Next, self-care and health goals are always on my list. If you don’t invest in yourself (time or money), you won’t have anything to offer anyone else. This includes writing and reading more (for fun). Lastly, my husband and I have been slowly but surely learning German. I’d like to be fluent by the end of the year.

Unfortunately, most people stop trying to obtain their goals by the end of February (if they last that long). That’s usually because they’ve established these huge goals that are overwhelming, instead of breaking it down into smaller, easier tasks.

How to Create Reasonable Resolutions

So, how do you go about creating reasonable resolutions and goals for yourself? Well, first you should read up about SMART goal setting. This method of writing down and setting goals for yourself helps you create smaller tasks and organized your path to success. Here’s a quick breakdown of the process…

  • Specific: Have a specific goal in mind. Instead of saying, “I’d like to be thinner by the end of the year,” say, “I’d like to reach 165 pounds by the end of the year.”
  • Measurable: Be sure all of your goals are measurable in some way. As I mentioned above, we want to pay off half of our debt. This is measurable and specific.
  • Achievable: This goes back to choosing goals that make sense for you to reach within a year (or whatever period of time you’ve set). Consider what is keeping you from that goal now and plan for changes you may need to make. Then assess whether or not it is actually achievable, making those changes as needed.
  • Relevant: You always need to be sure the smaller goals you’re looking to reach make sense in the long-run. If you have a five-year plan, for instance, you should be sure you have goals this year to help you get there.
  • Time-based: Once you decide on your goals, be sure you outline a timeframe in which you’d like to have it done. For example, to reach my end-of-year weight goal, I’ll need to lose X amount of pounds per month. Then check-in and see if you’re on track every three months, month, week, whatever works for you.

You should also realize that, sometimes, life gets in the way of things. Don’t be too hard on yourself! If you run into problems when you’re attempting to reach your goals, take a step back and assess whether or not you have been specific enough in naming what you want to achieve.

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Our Money Goals for 2022

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<p>It's the end of the year, which means many people are overspending to celebrate the holidays. The end of the year also brings about talk of New Year's resolutions and promises to live new, improved lives. I enjoy making resolutions each year and setting goals for our family to reach. It is fun to review how far we've come along and all of the things that changed throughout the year. We've already started brainstorming what money goals we want to attack in 2022.</p>::Pexels

It’s the end of the year, which means many people are overspending to celebrate the holidays. The end of the year also brings about talk of New Year’s resolutions and promises to live new, improved lives. I enjoy making resolutions each year and setting goals for our family to reach. It is fun to review how far we’ve come along and all of the things that changed throughout the year. We’ve already started brainstorming what money goals we want to attack in 2022.

What Money Goals Are Next?

When we set about deciding what financial goals we want to tackle in the new year we review what we’ve managed to accomplish over the last 12 months. This year was a slow one in terms of financial progress for us, but we made a number of upgrades in our lives. We added a new member of the family, upgraded our office equipment, and became a two-income household. Because we expanded our family and business this year, debt payoff progress was slow, but it wasn’t nonexistent. We maintained and grew in so many more amazing ways.

So, what’s in the cards for our family over the next 12 months? Here are some of the money goals we’re discussing for 2022…

  • IRA: One thing we’ve been talking about is opening retirement accounts. Both of us have worked as freelancers most of our adult life, so we haven’t had employee-funded 401K accounts or anything like that. We’d like to start contributing to IRAs and max them out next year. It will help with taxes too.
  • Savings for our child: We’ve talked about it a lot and we want to send our child to private school. To do that, we will need some saving stashed away when the time comes. We are going to do some research on education savings accounts that we can put money into for her. We will also be opening a high-yield savings account for her some time next year as well.
  • Tax account: We haven’t been organized enough in terms of keeping up with paperwork, etc. for taxes. One big money goal for next year is to set up separate accounts and have a system for electronically storing our receipts.
  • More organization: Speaking of electronically storing our receipts, we need a new system of organization altogether. Since having a baby and returning to work, things have been a bit scattered. So, the last week of the year we are going to do decluttering, organizing, and vision board creating.
  • Pay off one account: As far as our debt freedom goals go, we’d like to pay off one account next year (hopefully the car). Of course, I’ll keep you up to date on the progress on this here on the blog.

The Importance of Setting Goals

A lot of people chuckle at folks like me who set resolutions every year, but setting goals for yourself is important. It gives you something to work towards and helps you outline how you can reach your biggest dreams. For us, it will reaching debt freedom, having a home of our own, and providing a life for our family that we love. What more could you really ask for?

Readers, what money goals are you setting for yourself next year?

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