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1. If your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, avoid joining a gym unless you can truly commit yourself. If you are locked into a contract, you will have to pay regardless of whether or not you go. Exercising can be done at home or outside for free.
2. Begin saving now for the next holiday season. Paying for gifts and other holiday expenses is easier when you start putting money aside well in advance.
3. Check your insurance policies. If you experienced any changes, you may want to adjust your coverage. For example, increasing your life insurance could be a good idea if you had a child.
4. If you have debt, work out a plan to be debt-free by next year. If the amount you owe is realistically too large to pay off in one year, set a goal for how much you will pay down.
5. Cut down on take-out ordering. Even if the meal is not expensive, doing it frequently can really add up. A $10 pizza once a week will cost you over $500 a year!
6. If you have a cell-phone, consider canceling your land-line. You may not need to have, and pay for, both.
7. If you received money as a gift, try to save it, not spend it. If you put $2,000 in a CD earning 4% interest on January 1st, you will have made over $81 by the end of the year!
8. Check your credit reports periodically for errors and fraud. You can get free reports annually from the Annual Credit Report Request Service.
9. To avoid additional trips and save money on gas, try running your errands on the way to or from work.
10. Consider signing up for online bill pay. Not only will you save on stamps, but you can make sure your payments are received on time. |