Did you overspend this holiday season? Take a deep breath if the sight of your credit card bill scares you more than political banter at the Christmas dinner table or Aunt Sue’s mystery handmade fruitcake.
As we near the conclusion of another year, the calendar shift is an excellent opportunity to reassess finances, which is presumably why financial New Year’s resolutions are among the most popular annual pledges.
New Year’s resolutions are made by about two-thirds of Americans. Sixty-eight percent of those polled for Fidelity Investments’ annual Financial Resolutions Study said they are thinking about making a financial resolution for the new year, trailing only a personal commitment to improving health and well-being.
According to Fidelity, making a financial resolution is one of the best strategies to enhance your financial health. People who make financial resolutions at the start of 2021 are more positive about the future and have a better financial situation. More people recognize the importance of creating plans and sticking to them. In 2021, 71% of Americans were able to keep a financial resolution, up from 58% in 2020. In the future, 72 percent believe they will be in a better financial position in 2022 than they were in 2021.
The top three financial resolutions are predictable when it comes to money: save more, pay off debt, and spend less. However, there are many things you can do ā some easy, some more complex ā to achieve more financial contentment.
“One of the most important resolutions for 2022 should be to maximize credit card rewards while decreasing credit card interest.” “If you can accomplish that, you’ll be spending within your means, saving hundreds of dollars, and putting your finances in a better overall position,” said Jill Gonzalez, an analyst at personal finance website Wallethub. “Alternatively, some of the most effective and popular financial New Year’s resolutions include creating and keeping to a realistic budget, hunting for a better career, and managing your credit.”
Wallethub.com has compiled a list of financial resolutions you may adopt to save more money, lower debt, cut back on spending, and minimize financial stress.