I’ve always hated New Year’s resolutions. Why do you need a date to make you not suck at something? If you want to change just start now —regardless of the date!

But I was wrong.

Life gets busy. Especially with 3 boys running around. Holidays serve as a helpful reminder to work on improving yourself, not only for one day but continuing the rest of the year.

It seems like everyone hates Valentine’s Day but let it remind you to be more romantic and loving throughout the year.

Thanksgiving – thankful for what you have already built,

Christmas – a reminder to give to others,

St. Patty’s Day – relax and have some fun.

That brings me to the 3 things I have been trying (and 1 I am giving up)

Try: Focusing on Savings Rate

With how busy everyone’s life gets it’s a good idea to make sure your long-term goals are still accurate. The last thing you want is to think you are going to retire at 50 years old and then realize you haven’t been saving at the appropriate rate for the past 5 years.

Ouch!

So take a look and make sure you are on track.

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Remember if you need help starting or editing your budget to match your goals, schedule a quick call here.

Try: Not to Stress About Where Every Dollar Goes

This goes in line with paying yourself first method. Basically, if you need 250 dollars saved every paycheck to pay for a vacation you would pull that money into another account before you use the rest.

You do the same for your Spend Account too.

Any money that is in this Spend Account is good to spend WITHOUT tracking. Who cares if you spent $40 dollars on coffee this month or 40 dollars on something you wanted off Amazon.

This has been going great for me. It’s less time you will be focusing on every dollar and more time you can be doing something else you enjoy.

Try: Looking at Short-Term Goals

How are you going to pay for those 2 vacations this year?

Start a Stack (sinking fund) for those 2 vacations immediately. The sooner you do the less you have to contribute each paycheck. Going on vacation that is already “paid for” is next level. No more stressing about how much money you are racking up on the credit card. You can focus on having fun with the family.

We have been slowly adding more automated Stacks to our plan. Now we have stacks for many areas of our life. It is great having money ready to go when you need it.

✔️ Kids college
✔️ Vacation
✔️ Clothes
✔️ Kids Activities
✔️ House Maintenance
✔️ Medical Expenses
✔️ New Car
✔️ Car Maintenance
Etc.

Need help setting up your Stacks? Schedule a quick call here

Giving Up: Looking at Account Balances

Well not completely, but stop doing this on the daily. Especially for investment accounts. It is important to NOT constantly check your investment balance because constantly checking it can lead to a temptation to sell investments that may not have reached their full potential.

When you invest money, it is important to have a long-term mindset and let your investments grow for several years. This allows the power of compound interest to work in your favor and can lead to higher returns over time.

Additionally, constantly checking your investment balance can lead to unnecessary stress and can distract you from your overall financial plan. It is important to trust in your investment strategy and to have patience as your investments grow over time.*

If you want help setting up a budget so you have more money to invest, book a quick call

_{*Please note that the information provided is not intended to be investment advice. It is important to do your own research and consult with a financial advisor or professional before making any investment decisions. The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation or endorsement of any specific investment or financial strategy. Investing carries risks, including the potential loss of principal. Always carefully consider your investment objectives and risk tolerance before making any investment decisions.}