A New Year, A New Financial Life!

2018 is almost here. Are you financially ready? Every year, many resolve to be better with their finances. They want to pay down debt, save more money, and get out of the paycheck-to-paycheck rattrap. You start January with the best of intentions, but slowly start to fall off come February or March. 

Make a plan.

So how do stay on track all year long? Well, the number one reason you're broke is that you don't have a plan. You need to figure out where you're going. What are your dreams or things you want to do in your life? Dreams and goals have a financial component to them. Making a plan will help you achieve them.

Be aware.

Once you have a plan in place, make yourself aware of what you're doing. When you understand your spending habits, you can control them. Figure out how much debt you really have. When you know that, it can help prevent you from going further into debt.

Think differently.

It's also important to start thinking differently. In a Forbes 400 survey, 75% of them said the secret to building wealth was staying away from debt. Seven out 10 people are living paycheck-to-paycheck because they are buried by payments and debt. Do you want to be that statistic? If you want to start improving your finances, you have to think differently when it comes to debt.

Start a budget!

Now you probably don't want to hear this, but if you're ever going to make any real headway on your finances, you have to put yourself on a budget. I know that may seem like the end of fun as you know it, but I promise you'll be able to have even more fun once you implement it. A budget is there to help you control your money, not the other way around. Once you start telling your money what to do, you'll find more money to have fun with, all while saving and paying down your debt. According to a recent Gallup poll, only 32% of households have a working budget. That means that most people have no idea where their money is going. So get your budget started, track your expenses and spending, and your finances will improve. 

Don't take advice from broke people!

One of the best pieces of advice I can give you for the upcoming year is this—don't take advice from broke people! When you take advice from broke people, what do you get? More broke people! It sounds harsh, but if you want to be successful with your finances, stop listening to your broke friends and family.

Be grateful and content!

Stop thinking about everything you don't have. Be thankful for everything you do have. There are so many people in the world who are less fortunate. Being grateful and content is a key component of financial freedom.

Speed up your results and get help!

One of the best ways to improve your financial life is to get help! You don't have to do this alone, besides doing it alone will likely end in failure, and it will undoubtedly take longer. We have put all the information and support you need in one spot to get you on the fast track to saving money and crushing debt. We have hundreds of people on our membership site, Roots of Personal Finance. In fact, we have helped our Roots members save and pay off more than $1 million in 2017! You can do this too, and you can get started right now. Click here!

If you follow these steps, I have no doubt that you'll see the light at the end of the financial freedom tunnel next year!