New Year’s resolutions you can keep
Website design By BotEap.comThe holidays are behind us, but the few extra kilos are going around to remind us of our excesses. It’s time to reflect on the not-so-great clothes we’ve shown over the past year and decide to make changes.
Website design By BotEap.comAlthough committing to drastic changes in your eating habits is a popular resolution, it usually doesn’t last more than a couple of weeks. It’s about taking small steps toward establishing a life-long lifestyle change. Here are some great ways to start the New Year off right:
Website design By BotEap.comchoose a hobby
Website design By BotEap.comAccording to an article in the International Herald Tribune, when you do things that make you feel good, like a hobby, it activates an area of the brain called the nucleus accumbens, which controls how we feel about life. Activities that you enjoy also stimulate an area of the brain that makes you feel happy. Do you think hobbies are a waste of time? Think again! Hobbies can enhance your creativity, help you think more clearly, and sharpen your focus.
Website design By BotEap.comSo if you were thinking of playing the guitar, go for it! Or start a basketball league with your friends. You’ll get your guy’s dose of time and you’ll be able to let off steam, giving you more energy to face the world with your best foot forward.
Website design By BotEap.comsave more money
Website design By BotEap.comThere are plenty of easy ways to save money that really add up, from a savings account that automatically transfers money from every paycheck to booking cheaper travel and being more strategic about where to go for happy hour.
Website design By BotEap.comBut according to financial planning experts, the first steps toward financial freedom are understanding your financial reality: how much you earn, how much it costs to live, and how much discretionary income you have to play with. Use your bank’s online expense reporting feature to track daily spending and make adjustments when you spot bad patterns. If you smoke, quitting cigarettes is not only good for your health, it will save you about $1,800 a year.
Website design By BotEap.comDriving less is another great way to save money. Carpooling, using public transportation, and biking/walking go beyond being environmentally conscious, it can save you hundreds of dollars a year on gas, vehicle maintenance, and parking fees. Buying gently used vehicles and furniture on consignment is another smart way to save money, both on initial acquisition costs and resale value.
Website design By BotEap.comGo through your closets, garage, and basement and hold a garage sale, or post ads on Craigslist and take unwanted clothing to a consignment store or Goodwill for a tax deduction. And the easiest tip of all is to stop spending so much money! Simply have your bank automatically withdraw a set percentage amount from each paycheck; when you have less to work with, you will naturally control your spending.
Website design By BotEap.comStart a retirement fund
Website design By BotEap.comIt’s never too early to start planning for your retirement. Think about this: A 25-year-old who can invest $2,000 a year for eight years without investing an additional dollar after age 33 will earn more at age 65 than a 34-year-old who invests $2,000 a year for 32 years. One of the best retirement plan options available is your employer’s 401(k) Plan. You make pre-tax contributions, which reduce your taxable income, while earnings grow tax-deferred until retirement. In most cases, employers will match a portion of your contribution. If your employer offers a 401(k), it’s foolish not to participate; It’s like leaving money on the table… and walking away.
Website design By BotEap.comAnother option for saving for retirement is the IRA (Individual Retirement Account). A traditional IRA allows pre-tax contributions to grow tax-deferred, meaning you don’t pay taxes until you withdraw the money, so the amount you would have paid in taxes earns you income from the time you contribute it until the time you pay it. withdraw.
Website design By BotEap.comIf your employer doesn’t offer a retirement plan or you’re self-employed, a SIMPLE-IRA, 401(k) for self-employment, or KEOGH are options for sole proprietors and self-employed individuals.
Website design By BotEap.comMake a smart investment
Website design By BotEap.comInvesting isn’t just about stocks and bonds. Investing in an art collection, vintage cars, or watches is also considered an investment. If you have a passion, why not add a smart collection to your net worth? Not sure how to invest in art? You can subscribe to art publications, attend exhibitions, and get comfortable with a trusted art advisor. For more tips, check out AskMen.com’s article on buying art.
Website design By BotEap.comWith the real estate market in its current state, now is a great time to buy that investment property you’ve been thinking about. According to an article published by Forbes, the best markets in the US to get a good real estate deal include:
Website design By BotEap.com1. Fort Worth, Texas
Website design By BotEap.com2.Kansas City, MO
Website design By BotEap.com3. Houston, Texas
Website design By BotEap.com4. Cleveland, OH
Website design By BotEap.com5.Denver, Colo.
Website design By BotEap.com6. Long Island, New York
Website design By BotEap.com7.Washington, DC
Website design By BotEap.com8. Orlando, Fla.
Website design By BotEap.com9. Phoenix, Arizona
Website design By BotEap.com10. Las Vegas, Nevada
Website design By BotEap.comEat more whole foods
Website design By BotEap.comConvenience foods have monopolized the food industry, and for good reason: They’re convenient and usually cheaper, too. Most of us are on the go and don’t have time to make a homemade breakfast or make spaghetti sauce from scratch, let alone search for a nutritious and healthy lunch during our hectic days.
Website design By BotEap.comSo what are processed foods? It’s pretty simple: processed foods have been altered from their natural state for convenience, shelf-life extension, or safety. Methods used to process foods include canning, freezing, refrigeration, dehydration, and aseptic processing. With all the hype about healthy eating, it’s hard to know what’s good and what’s bad for us. While certain processed foods are, in fact, unhealthy, they’re not all bad for us, so I’m not saying we’re launching an outright boycott of all things prepackaged and processed.
Website design By BotEap.comMilk is technically a processed food product because it is pasteurized to kill bacteria and homogenized to prevent fats from separating. Instead of stressing about what not to eat, try stocking your fridge with healthy, whole-food snacks and pack a lunch with vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Opt for fresh soups and vegetable wraps from the restaurants and save the onion rings and sodas for your cheat day.
Website design By BotEap.comdo more for others
Website design By BotEap.comMost of us wish we had more time to spend giving back to the community. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to lose time to deliver food or care for a youngster. If you have time, more power to you. If not, there are other ways you can do your part to help those less fortunate.
Website design By BotEap.comDonate unwanted household items, non-perishable food and clothing to local charities or families you know could use them. Donating money or sponsoring a child in need is a great way to give back when you don’t have time to spare. A growing trend is shopping, especially with retailers that donate to charity. You can buy the products you normally would and still do something nice for someone else.
Website design By BotEap.comGet more quality sleep
Website design By BotEap.comSleep is an area where many of us skimp, and it’s no wonder. With our 24-hour society and increasing demands to balance work and family life, how can anyone sleep? Compounding the problem is noise pollution and a dozen other sleep-destroying factors.
Website design By BotEap.comAccording to the Sleep Foundation, nearly 40 million American men and women suffer from sleep disorders. Lack of sleep doesn’t get much attention, but it’s the cause of many illnesses and accidents, not to mention moody moods and dull skin tones.
Website design By BotEap.comStart the new year right. Go to bed early enough so you can wake up naturally without the help of an alarm clock, and cut out caffeine after 5 pm or earlier if you can. Also, skip the sleeping cup; it’s more likely to disrupt your sleep than it will help you get restful sleep.
Website design By BotEap.comSpend more time with the family
Website design By BotEap.comLife is short, why not fit more family time into your life? If you don’t have a partner or children, call your parents, siblings or cousins. Maintaining ties with those who knew you long ago is cathartic and keeps you grounded. What’s the point of working if we can’t spend it with the people we love?
Website design By BotEap.comgo green
Website design By BotEap.comYou are hearing it everywhere. Green is in fashion! Even if you’re not a bona fide tree lover, going green helps your bank account as much as the “global warming” crisis (actually, probably more).
Website design By BotEap.comPut your car in green: check the air pressure and air filter, remove the bike racks and any equipment or extra “stuff” you carry in the trunk; this will help with fuel efficiency. Of course, leaving the car in the garage also helps. Carpooling and the use of public transportation reduce vehicle emissions.
Website design By BotEap.comMake your home greener: install water-saving shower heads and aerators, turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth, and switch to energy-efficient appliances. If you have a garden, collect rainwater to water the plants.
Website design By BotEap.comWhat its New Years Resolution?