​It’s that time of year again……New Year’s Resolution time!
 
Perhaps it’s the over-indulgence from holiday parties and family meals, or the idea of a fresh start that makes us want to change our habits. However, the dream of change and new beginnings can slip away almost as soon as the resolutions are made. In fact, according to businessinsider.com less than 10% of people actually achieve their goals and 25% quit within their first week! Those are tough statistics but there are proven ways to help you stick to your New Year’s Resolutions!
 
Be Reasonable, Be Specific-
Vagueness can sabotage a goal faster than anything! Pick a resolution and be specific about it. Let’s use one of the most popular goals as an example; weight loss. Instead of thinking “I want to lose weight” pick a precise number and a precise date. Making the goal to lose 35 pounds by December 2020 is a good plan, but better yet, and for easy accountability, making the goal to lose 5 pounds per month in 2020 is even better! The more laid out the resolution, the easier it is to track progress. Concrete goals make them attainable!
 
Change your surroundings-
Old habits are hard to break! The chance of failure increases by not making relevant changes to your everyday surroundings. If quitting smoking is the goal, then avoid the people and places associated with it. Fill that time up with new, distracting activities like taking a quick walk outside, or snacking on something healthy. If weight loss is the goal, make small, daily changes in your decision making process. Avoid old eating places where you would be unlikely to choose a healthier option. If saving money is the goal, remove shopping apps from your phone, and open a separate savings account to break the spending habit. Out of sight is out of mind. Avoiding those triggers and replacing them with people, places and activities will help you stick to your goal!
 
If you fall off track, forgive yourself…..then get right back on track-
We are all human, setbacks are bound to happen. The important thing to remember is to keep on keeping on! It’s important because missing a goal by 10% or even 50% is not complete failure as long as you finish the task. A moment of weakness in the grand scheme of things is meaningless, just keep looking at the finish line. Keep your eyes on the prize with constant self-checks and positive reinforcements.
 
New Year’s Resolutions are to be taken in stride. They are fun to make, hard to keep, but worth it in the end. Celebrate the little successes along the way and by this time next year you will have accomplished something to be proud of!

​Fall has arrived, are you ready for the cooler weather? Have you taken the time to prep your home for the cold weather? Residential electricity rates have risen on average about 15% nationwide over the last 10 years, an increase of about $0.02 per year. Consumers who use oil heat are expected to pay about 20% more this year than last year.
 
Not surprisingly, energy costs will rise again this winter as consumers try to keep their homes warm and toasty. Before the snow flies and you get your first heating bill, take these steps to conserve heat and make your home more energy efficient:

• Adjust your thermostat. Throw an extra blanket on the bed and turn down the temperature in your home by 5 to 10 degrees at night to save energy and money. Buy a programmable thermostat and let it adjust the temperature for you.
• Fill the cracks, gaps and leaks. Pick up some spray foam insulation and look for gaps around your windows and pipes. If you have a gap under your door, install weather stripping or just make a “door snake.” This can save up to 40% on your annual energy bill–for both heating and air conditioning seasons.
• Take advantage of free sunlight. During the day, open the blinds on windows that face south and turn down your thermostat. At night, close the blinds so the heat doesn't escape through the window. Remove any objects that might block sunlight from shining on heat-absorbing walls.
• Add extra insulation. Start with the larger gaps around the chimney, furnace flues, plumbing pipes, and ductwork. Then check your roof insulation to make sure it’s about 10 to 16 inches deep. If it isn’t, have more installed. If your home is more than 50 years old and still has the original insulation, consider replacing it with newer insulation.
• Use a space heater in moderation. Use it if you keep the central temperature in your house very low and you want to heat one or two rooms. Turn it off when the room reaches a comfortable temperature. Place your space heater at least three feet from any flammable objects such as bedding, drapery and furniture, and never leave a space heater unattended.

Now you can sit back and watch the flurries with a cup of hot chocolate!

People who consider a credit card "free money" are headed for trouble.  I have found if you cannot pay your Credit Card balance in full every month you should not charge it.  Don’t be enticed to use your card to make a purchase just to earn Reward points unless you have the self-discipline to pay your credit card off every month or you may find yourself in trouble.   Here's an example:

​Hired as a co-op student at a credit union, Heather worked hard and received a promotion. She wanted new clothes, so she applied for a credit card. 

Heather paid the minimum monthly payment each month. Because of her payment record, the credit union agreed to raise her credit limit. Heather was off to Jamaica, where she used her credit card a lot. 

Heather paid down her credit card debt, then ran the balance up again--again and again. Five years later, Heather owed more than $5,000--and, technically, she still was paying for her Jamaica trip. It took Heather almost 12 years to finally paid off her credit card debt! Not only did she pay triple the amount charged, she was unable to save money. 

I feel credit card debt is one of the easiest ways to get yourself into financial trouble my advice is to be wary of the introductory and pre-approved offers, take your cards and place them in a secure inconvenient place and use them for emergency purchases only.  If the card is convenient to access you may fall for impulse buying.

Start slowly with your first credit card. A smart money management rule is to avoid paying interest on your credit card charges by paying the balance in full each month. That way you'll enjoy the convenience a credit card can bring, while avoiding unnecessary finance charges and debt that never seem to end. 

What advice do you have for Heather?