Did you make any new year's resolutions for 2024? Have you done a good job of sticking to them thus far? If you haven't set any goals for the new year or are struggling to live out the action steps to achieve the goals you set, I encourage you to make a vision board and write your goals down.

The start of a new year is sort of like a fresh slate, prompting lots of people to set New Year's resolutions. Some of the most common resolutions are eating healthier, becoming more physically active, saving money, improving personal relationships, learning a new hobby or skill, reading more, etc. 

However, others avoid making resolutions altogether because they never stick to them or get the results they're looking for. You know, the folks who say things like "I always break my resolutions" and "I always give up by mid-January."

One reason New Year's resolutions are so difficult to keep is that they require you to change. Change is hard, and people tend to resist it because it involves a lot of work, willpower, and motivation to do things differently than you have in the past. It's a lot easier just to keep things as they are, especially if you don't have a plan of action with detailed steps on how you're going to make a change.

Whether you call your personal goals New Year's resolutions or not, there is a better way to achieve them: creating good habits. When your actions become a habit, you don't have to remember when, where, why, or how to do them. They just get done because they become part of your daily routine.

Remember, habits- good or bad- result from small decisions we make over time. Our lives today (e.g., finances, health, career achievements) reflect our past habits. To make personal changes, focus on creating habits and routines. Decide now who you want to be next year and prove it to yourself every day by creating lasting habits that make positive changes in your life.

There’s no denying it: the season of giving is an emotional time. In fact, for most people, it’s probably the most emotional time of the year. And when kids are involved, those feelings tend to go into overdrive. Just about any expense can be rationalized because it’s being done in the spirit of creating an amazing holiday experience for the young ones.

The holidays are always one of the busiest times of year for me. I typically get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and wait until the very last minute to get everything done. By the time I get around to buying gifts for loved ones and giving to holiday charities, I'm in a total rush.

Last-minute shoppers like me are a dream for holiday scammers. The Grinch isn't the only one trying to steal this Christmas, so check out the BALANCE blog below for a few tips and tricks to avoid seasonal scams during the holidays.

Holiday spending is often a budget-buster. The expenses can be numerous: presents, wrapping paper, cards, decorations, food, and travel, to name a few. Yet very few people have unlimited holiday spending capabilities. If you don’t have the funds to buy everything you want, there’s no need to despair. A little bit of creativity and energy can get you through the holidays without draining your wallet.

With the holidays right around the corner, you've probably started making your shopping list and scouring through sales ads for all of the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Although you could quickly load up your Amazon cart with all the gifts on your list, I would encourage you to look into local businesses as an alternative.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and, if done right, can be one of the year's best holidays. With all of the delicious food, the gathering of loved ones, and the entertainment (football and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade), it's a recipe for success. 

As we kick off a new month before the holiday season, you may be looking for ways to make or save a little more money than usual for upcoming expenses. Check out the blog post below for ways to save every day so that come December, you have a little extra to spend during the holidays. 

And after the holiday season is over, check into our Christmas Club Account for great savings options for next year. 

For the October Financial Friday Community Panel, I was honored to be joined by my President/CEO Tim Carlisle; Christina Jackson, Executive Director of the McLeod Health Foundation, and Nicole Spencer, Assistant Director of Oncology Services for McLeod Health, to talk about the McLeod Health Foundation, McLeod Health's upcoming Comprehensive Cancer Center and raise awareness for Breast Cancer.