Thursday, January 1, 2015

Best Tips for the New Year: A Checklist

Best Tips for the New Year
     Start the New Year right with this list of reminders to accomplish before your year gets hectic.  Tips include family safety, financial and personal goals. Take care of it early and be ten steps ahead of everyone else. This way you can work on your personal goals with the peace of mind that you have taken care of those basics.

Family Safety

HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT OR REVIEW
 Avoid fines for not having insurance, have an insurance review done because new networks in the marketplace can save you money. This service is free and gives you a chance to get questions answered and understand policy particulars before the need arises.

FIRE ALARMS, CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS, SECURITY SYSTEMS
Test or replace batteries, make sure systems are in correct working order, dust free and area is free from clutter.

CELL PHONES AND EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
Review and updates contacts on cell phones. Sometimes switching phones or service provider does result in new numbers. Make sure your family contacts are up to date and children, elderly parents have current contacts.  If emergency contacts/numbers have changed, update with schools, employment and necessary individuals.

AUTO INSURANCE AND HOME INSURANCE
Spring in the time most people have these reviewed. Get it done early and avoid the rush.

Financial

BUDGET
Review your budget. Make sure it is written down on paper. Assess where you can save money. Use this base as a springboard for planning new goals this year. Focus on increasing savings and reducing debt.

HOLIDAY FORESIGHT
If possible, plan to set aside money monthly for the holidays. You would be amazed how much easier the holiday season is when you start in January. (I learned this from of mom of eight). Include a post holiday amount where you save buying items on clearance after the holidays for next year. Also note gift ideas through out the year and pick up items as you catch them on sale. This will definitely stretch your holiday dollars.

INCREASE INCOME

Look for opportunities to earn a little extra by investing in interest bearing accounts, part-time work, or free-lancing on a per project basis.  Use this increase for your savings, vacation or major purchase and keep your budget happily on track.

Personal

GOALS
Write down your personal goals and keep them where you will see them often to remind you what your working to accomplish. Help your children set goals to accomplish and nuture them to keep on track. Some crafty ways to keep them close at hand, make bookmarks with goals on them, decorate a dry erase or chalk board with theme and keep list on wall in your room, Use a notepage in pocket/purse calendar to write goals down and check them off as you accomplish them.

NEW EXPERIENCE
Plan to learn a new skill, cook a new dish or try something you never experienced before. New experiences feed you in a way that nothing else can.

VOLUNTEER
Give of yourself to a cause you believe in. You can volunteer as little as 2 hours a month and still make a difference. Volunteering can be as simple as helping a neighbor with their needs, or helping a community project or non-profit organization. Get your family involved and help them find their interests in causes. Kids who give of their time expecting nothing in return acquire better social skills, good morals, world understanding and more maturity then those who don’t. Also this networking will help them later in life as connections made can increase opportunity doors that will open to them.

Have a great new year!


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