by Christy Bieber | Dec. 8, 2019
The Ascent is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from offers on this page. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation.
It's a busy time of year, but you won't regret taking the time to set some financial goals right now.
New Year's resolutions are often made on the first day of the year -- but all too frequently are forgotten by the middle of the month. The problem is, the excitement of a new beginning can quickly fade if you don't start forming lasting habits while you're still motivated.
If you hope to make financial resolutions in 2020, you'll maximize your chances of success by making them early and developing a concrete plan of action. That way you can begin building new behaviors when you're still in the New Year's spirit.
Image source: Getty Images
It can take time to decide on the right financial goals -- and make a plan to achieve them. So if you want to start working on your money missions on New Year's Day, now is the time to sit down and think about what you hope to accomplish next year.
Start by making a list of all of your potential financial desires, both long-term and short-term. This could include things like buying a house, paying off your credit cards, retiring early, saving up a vacation fund, shoring up your emergency fund, buying your next car in cash, or whatever else you dream of doing.
Then, decide which long-term and short-term goals are most important to you and narrow down your list. If you try to do too much, you're likely to be overwhelmed and end up doing nothing at all. Once you've got an idea of the goals that matter most, use these as the basis for your 2020 New Year's resolutions.
But you don't want to just make a wish list -- you need to get specific. This means taking the time to figure out exactly how much money you'll need to accomplish each goal, what your timeline is, and how much you need to save each week or month to hit your target.
All of this takes time to figure out, so don't wait until Jan. 1 to go through the process -- sit down today and get started.
Once you have a clear plan, it's time to translate this into a change in your habits. You can only be sure of success if you adjust your behavior to accomplish your resolutions.
If you know you need to save $800 a month for one of your goals, for example, you'll want to look at your budget and figure out what you're going to do to save $28 per day or $200 per week. This could mean cutting out a restaurant dinner one day or driving for a ridesharing service for a few hours the next.
Then, start your new habit on the first of the year and make a commitment to stick with it, no matter what, until the end of January. It typically takes around 30 days for a behavior to become a habit. So by starting when you're the most motivated on New Year's Day and making a one-month commitment, you'll be far more likely to hit those financial targets.
Don't wait until Jan. 1 to decide what you want to do to have a better financial 2020. Set your goals now, establish a path to success, and be ready to put it into place come the first of the year. When you're able to stick with your plan the whole year through, you'll be glad you made that extra effort.
As long as you pay them off each month, credit cards are a no-brainer for savvy Americans. They protect against fraud far better than debit cards, help raise your credit score, and can put hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars in rewards back in your pocket each year.
But with so many cards out there, you need to choose wisely. This top-rated card offers the ability to pay 0% interest on purchases into 2022, has some of the most generous cash back rewards we’ve ever seen (up to 5%!), and somehow still sports a $0 annual fee.
That’s why our expert – who has reviewed hundreds of cards – signed up for this one personally. Click here to get free access to our expert’s top pick.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters.
Copyright © 2018 - 2021 The Ascent. All rights reserved.
By submitting your email address, you consent to us sending you money tips along with products and services that we think might interest you. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please read our Privacy Statement and Terms & Conditions.