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| 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.
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