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New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be reserved for diets and exercise. Sometimes the area of your life that really needs some attention is your finances. 

The new year is a great time to start adopting smarter financial health habits. Here are some of WLM’s tips to a great 2021:

1. Make a financial plan

Your first resolution for 2021 should be to make a financial plan. The plan should lay out what you want to achieve with your money in 2021. It should reflect your life goals – do you want to start investing, save for a house deposit, or increase your retirement nest egg? Be specific – how much do you want to invest or save? A concrete figure is much easier to measure your progress against than an unspecified goal.

2. Plot the path

Your second resolution should be to plan how you are going to achieve your goals for 2021. If you plan to save $10,000 to invest, figure out how you will do this. Breaking your plan down into steps can make this clearer. To save $10,000, you will need to save around $200 a week. Once you know this, you can review your budget to see how you can make this happen.

3. Reduce your debts

The most reliable way to increase your savings is to reduce your debt. While you’re in debt, you are paying interest, which leaves you with less income to save or invest. Focus on high-interest debts such as credit cards, personal loans and car loans as a priority. If this seems overwhelming, break down what you owe into manageable chunks. You could start by making extra repayments on your highest interest debt. Once that is paid off, move to the next highest interest debt.

4. Invest in you

Last but not least of our tips should be to invest in yourself. Resolve to build your financial knowledge so that you are in the best position to manage your money. If you plan to invest, take the time to learn about the share market and start to keep an eye out for shares you may be interested in investing in. Take the time to understand your investment options. The time spent is an investment in your future.

The start of a new year is a great time to work out your goals and financial plans. Then you can put your plans into action to take control of your financial future. These New Year resolutions should help get you started on the right track.

To learn more about how to get started, contact us here at WLM.