Thirteen does not have to be an unlucky number this year. This year can be the year that you turn your finances around, make the number 13 lucky, and take your life to the next level.
Here are 13 ways that you can have a great year and change the history of the number 13 and make it lucky.
13 Ways To Make The Number 13 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. You can do all of this with a written monthly 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 the year 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. The same can be said for finding an accountant. You need to build your financial team.
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 this year is to pick one of your debts to really tackle. It can be the debt with the smallest balance, like a debt snowball, or 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 to your Roth IRA for last year. You typically have until April 15th to make contributions for the previous year. You can also set yourself up for success this year 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.
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 earning any company match contributions that your company makes. Use this year 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
This year 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!
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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 planning for your dead be a lucky? 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? Is the number 13 unlucky? How are you making this year the best year yet?