Seasonal Cleaning and the New Year
Everyone likes spring cleaning – dusting off the cobwebs, cleaning the windows and letting the light shine through the windows, the freshness of spring and the renewal of the spirits. I’m a bit of an odd bird, though, I like to have that feeling of renewal at the start of every season and winter is no exception. Winter offers us a unique opportunity – like the dawn of a new day – the New Year offers us a fresh start, one that can be even more impactful than dusting off cob webs or even that new gym membership. Ultimately, you are pretty stuck inside anyhow.
Me – I like lists, in fact, I live by lists! So my first tid-bit of advice is to sit down and think about your financial house. Think about the things that are cluttering your budget, think about the things that are working for you, and think about some ideas you have never dared to think of – and write them down! This is what my list might look like ~
2018 Financial To Do List
- Pay off credit cards
- Review bills to see where family is overspending (i.e. cable, phone)
- File taxes on time (with no extension)
- Continue to fund retirement accounts
- Look for new investing opportunities
- Start a vacation savings fund
Now, you have your starting point. With any good list, start with the item that is going to give you the biggest boost of confidence in the shortest amount of time. Get that win under your belt and you are much more likely to continue on with the remainder of your list. Start taking down the items on your list one by one, or two by two, if you’re an overachiever. It is definitely ok to start small and for progress to be a series of actionable steps – don’t be afraid of the larger items, they will get done if you remain focused and steadfast. Within 6 months, you will have saved a little money, organized yourself, and be well on your way to improving your overall financial health.
If you’d like some help getting started, we’re always here to help—contact us today to set up an appointment and we can help you get organized for the new year.
About the author
Athena K. Stone has been with Attentive Investment Managers, Inc. since 2003, is an Investment Advisor and the Chief Compliance Officer for the company. Mrs. Stone earned her Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation in 2010 from the College for Financial Planning. She received the designation of Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) from Fi360 in 2011. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University in 2012 and her Master of Science in Financial Planning and Designation of MPAS (Master Planner Advanced Studies) from the College for Financial Planning in 2018.
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