Ah, the obligatory financial New Year resolutions post. Here's how to make resolutions that stick. And please accept my best wishes for a prosperous New Year.
Every year, many of us make financial New Year resolutions. This is because many of us can see things that could improve about our finances. Unfortunately, too many resolutions are broken by the time March rolls around. If you are looking for financial New Year resolutions that stick, here are 5 things to try:
1. Figure Out What Matters
The surest way to fail with your financial New Year resolutions is to choose items that don't particularly matter to you. Instead, look for ways to set resolutions that matter. Think about what you most want to accomplish with your money, as well as what you think you can do to make the world a better place. Decide what's truly important to you, then use your New Year resolutions to help you become the person you want to be. When you figure out what matters, you are more likely to set goals that help you change into a better version of yourself. And those are goals that can be easier to stick to.
2. Set One Big Goal
Rather than trying to complete a laundry list of financial New Year resolutions, consider setting one big goal — and then breaking it down into multiple mini-goals. You don't really need a ton of resolutions. In fact, you're probably better off without a long list of things you wish would happen. Instead, figure out what one financial situation you would like to improve upon, and make that your financial New Year resolution. Then, break it down into achievable steps, or mini-goals, that you can accomplish throughout the year.
3. Create Accountability
Next, you need to find a way to hold yourself accountable for your goal. Write down your goal. Map it out by marking milestones that you want to reach throughout the year. Let others know about your goal so that they can check up on you. You are more likely to stick to your resolutions if you have some sort of mechanism for being accountable.
4. Don't Think of Resolutions as All or Nothing
One of the biggest reasons that people fail with their financial New Year resolutions is that they think in terms of all or nothing. If you get bogged down by thinking that once you slip up a little, it's all over, then you will have a hard time sticking to your goals. Instead, realize that it's a process. Creating mini-goals will help you stay on track, but if you do get off track a little bit, realize that you can get back on track. One slip-up doesn't mean the end. You can still keep improving, and you can still work toward your money goals.
5. Remember to be SMART
At the very least, remember that you can set SMART goals. These are goals that have the following characteristics:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Realistic
- Timely
Your financial New Year resolutions can be all of these things. But it requires that you give some serious thought to your situation, and decide what you want to accomplish with your money. Figure out how you view your money (is it a tool?), and then create a goal that provides you with a way to put your values and priorities in action.
I love SMART goals, I am so glad people are starting to use them in their personal lives and not just in the workplace.
I also agree that people need to set goals that are important to them. Otherwise whats the point?
To often we just set half-hearted goals that don’t really matter to us. No wonder we fail! If you pick something that really matters, though, you are more likely to stick with it. Happy New Year!
Im starting to write my goals and post them where i see them everyday. But not just a 1 year goal, but 5 and 10 year as well. love your stuff Miranda!
That’s a great idea! I like the idea of planning out where you want to be in 5 and 10 years as well.