It may already be 2017, but that doesn’t mean it is too late to make a New Year’s resolution—or five. While many resolutions tend to focus on things like eating healthy and losing weight, today we are going to focus on resolutions that can save you money and help you end 2017 with your bank account a little fatter. Check out our 5 money-saving resolutions for the new year below.
This is a great resolution because it helps you meet multiple goals in the new year. First, it helps you lose weight since home-cooked meals tend to be much healthier than their restaurant counterparts. Second, you can incorporate healthier ingredients. Third, you can use this time to connect more with family. And finally—and why it is on this list—cooking at home, especially when you meal plan—is significantly cheaper than eating out.
Do you smoke? Drink a little too often? Spend crazy amounts of money on gaming that keeps you sitting rather than moving? Examine your life for any habits that are both bad for you and cost money. Then, work on reducing them or cutting them out completely. You will find yourself healthier, happier, and richer by the end of the year.
This may not sound like a great way to save, but over the course of a year, it really adds up. Most of us already save our coins, letting them pile up until we head to the bank to exchange them. However, you can do the same thing with smaller bills. What should the threshold be? That depends on your individual needs. Start with dollar bills and increase from there.
Many of us have something small we do on the side when we need a little extra cash. But what if you worked these small jobs all year long? Set aside five hours a week, perhaps an hour a day, to work on these side jobs and then set aside the income earned as savings.
Where does the money go? All too often, it goes to impulse buys. To prevent this, make a monthly budget and stick to it. To help, leave some in the budget specifically for those impulse purchases, that way you don’t feel denied, but you also don’t go too crazy.