To make the most of our lives, it is a good idea to pause sometimes and analyze them.
The beginning of a new year offers a chance to naturally reflect on the previous year and gives fresh adjustments for the future greater motivation. It’s time to look ahead to 2023 as 2022 draws to a close, so that you can start the new year off as financially sound as you can.
Here are the top 11 personal finance suggestions to think about if you’re wanting to improve your financial situation in the coming year.
Our Top 11 Personal Finance Tips to Boost Your Financial Situation in 2023
1. Have a monthly savings target.
The first step to achieving financial freedom is through savings. The importance of savings has been emphasized by the rising cost of living and layoffs. However, the savings culture remains poor.
Having a monthly savings target is a good way to sidestep the effects of the financial cruises – or at least soften its blows.
You can start by having a monthly savings target. If this feels overwhelming for you, break it down to weekly or daily goals. The key is to be consistent in setting aside money that you would need for the future.
2. Make one extra payment on your debts.
Household debt is soaring, with less than 40% of Americans having one thousand dollars in savings.
Many people will be going into the new year with larger debt burdens. As such, you need to take your debt payments seriously. Over the course of the coming year, make an extra payment on your debt (credit card, mortgage, auto loan, etc.).
One extra monthly payment per year on your mortgage shortens the length of your loan by 4-5 years. Thinking of what 4-5 years of savings in mortgage payments would do for your financial situation!
3. Put money into retirement.
Inflation and recession have put many retirement plans in jeopardy. But leaving the labor market is an inevitable fact that everyone will face. As you enter the new year, the blatant reality is that your year of retirement is now one year closer.
Starting to save is the only way to alter it, even if it’s only a tiny bit. Find out how to create an account, deposit some money, and start allocating a portion of your monthly income to it this year if you haven’t saved anything before.
Also, get smarter with how you protect and grow your nest. The downturns in the stock market caused by the Fed Rate hikes have reduced the value of retirement portfolios. So saving for retirement no longer requires a save-it-and-leave-it approach.
Look out for ways to save in assets that will protect the value of your wealth. Pay attention to macroeconomic policies and how they will affect your retirement. Start a business or invest wisely.
4. Boost emergency savings.
Having quick access to money is also essential for covering unforeseen costs.
However, according to a poll by Betterment at Work, just 59% of workers presently have an emergency fund, down 7% from the previous year, leaving 41% without any form of safety net.
Finding temporary employment might be quite beneficial in light of recent layoffs and concerns about an impending recession. You might be able to save more money if you work a part-time job in retail, a restaurant, or holiday decorating for hire.
Numerous online-only savings accounts now enjoy higher rates as a result of this year’s interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve.
Some such accounts are paying as much as 3.5% interest with no minimum balance. Either way, the current economic uncertainty demands that you should take saving for an emergency seriously.
5. Plan how you’ll spend before you buy.
Simply watch your spending if you’re unable to save additional money at the moment. Before making a Christmas purchase, decide how you want to pay for it. You can stick to your spending plan and avoid debt by paying with cash instead of credit.
Some businesses may give you a discount if you pay with cash to avoid credit card transaction costs.
In some circumstances, purchasing in cash may result in you paying 3% less than the purchase price. Like cash payments, digital payment programs like ApplePay, Venmo, and CashApp can also be used.
You have greater consumer protections when using a credit card than a debit card, and you could also earn benefits like cash back or airline or hotel miles.
Choose a card with a low-interest rate or one with a 0% introductory APR offer, especially if you believe you won’t be able to or won’t pay off your whole debt after the monthly cycle.
6. Start a No-buy challenge.
Start a No-buy challenge for a certain amount of time (1 month, 3 months, 1 year). Choose the dates, note them on your calendar right away, and resolve to refrain from making any purchases during that period other than food and necessities.
The experiment solely has benefits; there are no drawbacks. Along the road, you’ll discover more about yourself, reconsider your purchasing patterns, and make some savings.
7. Boost your credit score.
You can view your FICO score for free through many credit cards.
The trouble with credit scores is that while it’s crucial to have a solid one on hand whenever you need it, we can’t always predict when that will be. Find a means to verify yours today, and then resolve to make improvements towards boosting your credit score by the end of 2023.
8. Combine resources with your partner.
If your household has two earners, try to put away one spouse’s whole paycheck.
If you and your spouse both have jobs, decide to live on just one income and invest the whole amount of the other person’s income. You should decide to strive toward this resolution in 2023 even though it will require planning and is unlikely to materialize as soon as the calendar flips to January.
9. Make a budget.
Since you were in high school, people have emphasized the value of creating a budget for yourself (or maybe even younger).
If not, get started right now. No more postponing it. The time has come! If you’ve discovered that typical budgeting methods don’t work for you, try something alternative, like a spending plan.
10. Invest in the stock market.
Starting an investment in a company you believe in has never been simpler thanks to recent free applications like Robin Hood.
You can invest any amount of money (even as little as $10 or $20) in stocks or mutual funds. You’ll gain a lot of knowledge and may make more money as a result.
11. Don’t buy into the hype.
Do not invest in an asset or security just because everyone is doing it.
The events of 2020 from the plunge in cryptocurrencies and the resultant collapse of crypto exchanges have reinforced the need to do due diligence before investing.
Ironically, though 2022 is a year characterized by severe market downturns which have resulted in many people losing money, investing legends like Warren Buffett have seen their net worth increase.
His big bet on oil stocks paid off handsomely with one of them doubling its value. In 2021, Buffett’s net worth was $104.4bbn, as at the time of writing, his net worth is $113bn. You can do well to grasp investment tips from those who have proven their mettle.
Final Thoughts
The end of the year is an important time for making financial decisions that can have an impact in the year ahead — and for years to come. The problem is most people don’t follow through on their resolutions.
Yet again, people wait for the New Year to start implementing them. But you don’t need to wait until December 31 to start a series of actions that may change the course of your life. In truth, waiting until the first day of the New Year to take action is merely just a delay tactic.
If you are convinced of the benefits an action would have on your life, you will start implementing immediately because you’ll want to see the results earlier. So while this article is on financial yips for the New Year, why not have a hard start on 2023 by starting now?