Thirteen does not have to be an unlucky number this year. 2013 can be the year that you turn your finances around or take them to the next level. Here are 13 ways that you can have a great 2013 and change the history of the number 13 and make it lucky.
Start Your Budget. Now is the time to really see where you’re spending your money. It’s time to get back on track in 2013. You can do all of this with a budget and take control of this year of your spending. Like most things with finances, your budget should be revisited every year. The first of the year is a great time to consider making changes to your budget. Were your categories accurate in your budget? Did you spend more in some areas of your life and less in others? Now is the time to make changes to your budget and start 2013 off on the right foot.
Go Back To School. I am a big fan of education. I guess that’s why I have gone back so much and earned so many degrees. I think everyone should go back to school at some point. Whether it is community college or earning a Masters degree, going back to school will set you up for success you dare in your current job or as a stepping stone for the next job.
Seek Help From A Financial Planner. far too many people need help and don’t Gil seek it out to get it. They think that either they cannot afford it or don’t know where to look. But if you need help, take time this year to find a certified financial planner in your area that can help you with your financial goals and financial planning. Many offer free first time consultations for new clients. You owe it to yourself and your family to seek help if you need it. Take this year to make that leap if you’ve been putting it off.
Read Some Great Books About Money. There are a lot of great personal finance books out there. You should try and read several this year. If you need some recommendations, check out my list of the top ten personal finance books that should be on everyone’s bookshelf. A recent study said that most millionaires read one nonfiction book per month.
Pick One Debt To Go After. one great thing that you can do in 2013 is to pick one of your debts to really tackle. It can be the debt with the largest balance with a debt with the highest interest rate. But no matter what pick one to focus on.
Focus On Your Roth IRA. Did you max out your Roth IRA last year? It’s still not too late to contribute for 2012. You can also set yourself up for success in 2013 by focusing on your Roth IRA. Now that the federal government has raised the maximum contribution to Roth IRAs to $5,500, you can contribute $458 per month if you’re using dollar cost averaging throughout the entire year to pay an equal share each month.
Contribute To Earn Your Company’s 401(k) Match. Have you been neglecting your company’s 401(k)? You should be investing enough in your company’s 401(k) to at least be learning any matching contributions that your company makes. Use 2013 as a year to reorient yourself. It is a time to get back to the basics of investing. It’s a time to invest enough to get your company’s matching 401(k) contribution, maxing out your Roth IRAs, and looking over your entire financial picture.
Open A Trading Account. I am a big fan of having a small individual stock trading account such as Scott trade to invest a small percentage of my investment portfolio and individual stocks. This can be a great way to have fun with investing. It can be a great way for you to play out different investment strategies for individual stocks as you might have. It is a way to keep yourself involved and have fun with investing. Because believe it or not, investing still is and should be fun.
Find A Hobby. 2013 could be a great year for you to find a hobby. While you might I think that this has a lot to do with personal finance, there is a lot to be said to getting away for little while I’m doing something out of the ordinary. Everyone needs a hobby. You could take this year and find what you really enjoy and love. For me I spent the past year learning how to play the guitar. Why don’t think that I’m very good still, I do enjoy my weekly letter weekly lessons and practice every day. It is something that I wanted to do, and it was on my bucket list.
Fall In Love With One Company. you should follow love with the company. I fall in love with plenty and one of my favorite companies that I follow is Dr. Pepper. Dr Pepper Snapple Group (Stock Symbol: DPS) is a wonderful company that I follow religiously. I read every report in every article printed about the company because I best in them quite a bit. Do you have a company that you follow? This year might be a great year to pick a company that you like and follow them in order to learn more about them so you can eventually become a great and studious investor.
Work On Your Credit Score. while you may not be thinking about taking outdent and making a large purchase, you may want to take this year to work on your credit score. Pay off your debt and look at your utilization ratio to send your credit score up for success in the future. You may not want or need to use it right now, but working on your credit score now can help set you up for success in the future when you needed to buy a home, to buy a car, or to make some other purchase. Get your Equifax 3-in-1 Credit Report & FICO Score Now!
Double Check Your Insurance Coverage. when was the last time that you look at your life insurance coverage? Or the coverage on your home or car? Do you have enough insurance coverage? I typically recommend that people relook their insurance coverages every year. This year maybe the time you need to rethink how much coverage you have and if it’s enough.
Plan For Your Death. I know what you’re thinking. How can plan for your dad be a lucky 2013? But you can use this year to plan for the future. Do you have a will? Do you have a trust plan or plan for your children after you die? Will your loved ones know how to handle your estate the way you wanted to be handled? This year may be the best time to look forward, to look ahead to ensure that your wishes are carried out the way that you want them to be.
What about you? How are you making 2013 the best year yet? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.
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I think you only have to do one or two of these to make your year better. Great list! I am a huge fan of getting my hands on as many great books as possible – you never know where you’ll get some great advice and using like a laser focus to knock out debt one at a time.
Nunzio Bruno recently posted..How I Spend (Some of) My Sunday