It's easier to make New Year's resolutions than to keep them, isn't it? But if you've made a decision to take charge of your finances in the coming year, you owe it to yourself – and your bank account – to stick to it.
Here are some tips to help you refocus your strategy so you can reach your financial goals:
1. Revisit your budget to track spending
Prices for just about everything have gone up because of supply chain delays or general inflation. While you might not necessarily be buying more, you are spending more, which means it's time to revisit your budget.
Take stock of your monthly expenses to see what's changed so that you understand how much money is coming in and going out with a budgeting app. The First Horizon mobile banking app allows users to budget and track bill payments, plus you can monitor your investment portfolio. A simple spreadsheet will also do if you'd prefer not to link your accounts to an app. If you prefer pen and paper or are a bullet journal user, you can always create a budget spread in a notebook.
2. Grow your emergency fund with automated savings
Small contributions to your savings can add up over time, but you've got to get started somewhere. Set up an automatic savings plan that takes money out of your checking or straight from your paycheck every week and puts it into an emergency fund. Aim for three to six months' worth of expenses.
Already there? Consider automatic transfers to an investment account, or create a holiday fund so that you can wrap up next year's holiday shopping season debt-free. And, as always, there's an app for all of that – look into Acorns, which rounds up credit card or debit card payments and deposits the change into an investment account.
3. Spend less by unsubscribing
4. Set a goal for paying off credit card debt
Paying off debt is a great resolution, but it's a lofty one without a set timeframe. Debt Payoff Planner is an app that calculates your current loans and debts and helps you set up a strategy for paying it all off. Whether you make minimum payments or aim for the snowball or avalanche methods of paying down debt more quickly, you'll be able to see your progress and the finish line along the way.
Try one of these tips and hit the reset button on your commitment to your financial goals this year and beyond.
For additional help on how to manage debt and build wealth, consult with a banker today.
