How to Stop Hating New Year’s Resolutions

January 03, 2017

I was having a conversation with friends over my favorite dessert, which is basically anything chocolate. One of my friends mentioned New Year’s resolutions and like a symphony, I heard a range of moans and groans. I told them to consider re-framing their idea of success by focusing on consistently (not perfectly) making small changes instead of focusing only on the end goal. If they change their behavior and do it consistently, the natural byproduct is their goal. I gave them the following as a starting point to consider.

Being Healthier:

1. Replace two drinks a day with water. If you cannot stand the tastelessness of water, throw in some fruit – strawberries, lemons, etc for extra taste.

2. Fill half of your plate at lunch or dinner with vegetables. A salad is a quick and easy solution. Just minimize the dressing to 2 tablespoons or less.

3. Consider having a “walking” meeting with a colleague. Commit to a 15-minute walk during lunch. If you travel a lot, you can use workout apps with various workout programs and even a coach to keep you motivated like Aaptiv or Fitstar.

Saving money

1. Start off with an amount you are confident you can save per pay period and adjust your payroll to have the funds automatically sent from your paycheck to a savings account. You can always increase the amount.

2. Consider using the “round-up-to-the-nearest-dollar” bank savings feature or have deposits (interest, ATM usage rebate) automatically deposited into your checking account.

3. Have a “no-spend day” when you choose where you are committed to not spending any money for the day.

Becoming Debt Free

1. Stop using your credit card. The easiest way to reduce the amount you owe is not to acquire any new debt.

2. Call your creditors and ask for an interest rate reduction. Research from CreditCards.com cited that 3 out of 4 people who ask for interest rate deductions actually get it.

3. As we head into tax season, consider earmarking part of your tax return to reduce your debt.

What are your goals? Starting off with the small changes can give you the quick wins to keep you motivated to reach them by the end of 2017. Then maybe you won’t groan the next time you hear about New Year’s resolutions!

Downsizing Your Retirement Expenses

October 12, 2015

As people get closer to retirement, priorities change. The financial resources spent on home improvements and the time and energy necessary to maintain a full-sized home often become a little more of a burden. As kids leave the house and launch into their careers and start building their own families, there’s often a bunch of unneeded space. Continue reading “Downsizing Your Retirement Expenses”

Slaying the Three Headed Debt Monster

May 11, 2015

I recently met with a couple (let’s call them James and Julia) in their early-40’s with two young children. I could feel the stress and tension enter the room before they even took a seat in my office. If you’ve ever been around friends that were obviously not getting along, you probably recognize that feeling as all positive energy exits the room the moment the couple in distress enters. This couple’s debt-related stress was not just affecting their relationship, it was starting to impact their friends. Even more potentially devastating, debt-related stress was starting to take a toll on their physical health and well-being. Continue reading “Slaying the Three Headed Debt Monster”

Eating Healthy On A Budget

April 28, 2015

Okay, I will admit it. I am a little bit of a health nut. I love to run, do obstacle races, and do CrossFit and decided to also do the Insanity videos because I felt I needed a little something extra. My husband just looks at me, shakes his head, and loves me enough to give me the Epson salt when he sees me struggling to get off the couch – without commentary. Now that is true love. Continue reading “Eating Healthy On A Budget”

Could You Walk Away From $2 Billion?

February 14, 2014

In a move that could go down as one of the more surprising moves I’ve seen from a business in quite a long time, CVS has announced that by October 1^st they will no longer carry tobacco products in their stores. That sounded “interesting” when I first heard about it. And then I heard how much money they made each year in cigarette/tobacco product sales…$2 billion! Continue reading “Could You Walk Away From $2 Billion?”

The Benefits of Healthy Living

January 29, 2014

Is it just me or does it seem like people are trying to eat better and exercise more these days? I see more people jogging up and down my street. I’ve noticed more “healthy” snack options at the grocery store. Continue reading “The Benefits of Healthy Living”

Lessons From Having the Flu and Pneumonia

January 17, 2014

One of my philosophies of life is that if you’re going to take the time to do something, you should take pride enough in yourself to go all out and give maximum effort. I took that to a new level recently by not only getting “The Flu” (It’s an actual thing, not just something that people talk about and it’s terrible! Get a flu shot!!!) and to go along with it, I went the extra mile and got pneumonia as well. I don’t get sick very often, but when I do it’s usually a complete wipe out for a few days. Fortunately for me, I was able to go to my doctor, be seen in a timely fashion, get the tests I needed (flu test and chest x-ray) and then hit the pharmacy for the meds I needed. The good news is that like all of my prior minor illnesses, I survived this one and am here to write about it… Continue reading “Lessons From Having the Flu and Pneumonia”

The Dog Days of Summer: Don’t Let Boredom Get in the Way of Your Budget

July 26, 2013

After a week off, I’m officially back in the office, sitting at my desk and staring at a checking account that looks a lot different than it did before I left for summer vacation. What I mean to say is … the numbers I’m looking at are much smaller. Given that I’m no longer in school, summer vacation is essentially over for me, and the “dog days of summer” – and the sweltery boredom that often coincides with the end of the season – are officially beginning to set in….Augh. Continue reading “The Dog Days of Summer: Don’t Let Boredom Get in the Way of Your Budget”

Financial Lessons From My Father

June 20, 2013

With my colleague Greg Ward’s post yesterday about teaching his children the value of a dollar and Father’s Day still in my recent memory, I reflected on what financial lessons my own father passed on to me. After all, he was a former stockbroker and is now a successful investor. Here are some that have stuck with me: Continue reading “Financial Lessons From My Father”

How to Make the Most of Summer Produce

May 28, 2013

It’s Sunday morning and we’ve just enjoyed a stack of blueberry pancakes before heading out to the annual Strawberry Festival. There’s nothing better than fresh fruit and vegetables bought from the local farmers’ market, which kicks off opening day each year during Memorial Day weekend with juicy strawberries, crisp lettuce, and fresh asparagus here in the mid-Atlantic region. By July 4th, fireworks signal just-picked sweet corn, plump tomatoes, and delicious peaches. The Amish fruit stand just down the road even gives me the opportunity to pick up some organic brown eggs along with the summer harvest. It’s easy to load up on healthy produce when it is in season, but it spoils so quickly that almost as much ends up in the garbage as in our stomachs. Continue reading “How to Make the Most of Summer Produce”

Why Disability Protection is So Important

April 03, 2013

Several weeks ago, my brother was working on some routine plumbing around the house when he bent over to pick something up. As he straightened up, he heard a “pop” and felt a sharp pain in his knee. Immediately, he knew something was wrong, and a quick trip to the emergency room confirmed what he had expected: he tore his meniscus. Within a few days, my brother had surgery performed to repair the damage and for the next six to eight weeks he will be unable to put any pressure on his leg. Continue reading “Why Disability Protection is So Important”

Get Healthy and Fit on the Cheap

December 03, 2012

Fitness and finances may be more interrelated than you think. I am not just talking about your gym membership fees, thought we’ll certainly address them in this blog. I am talking about your health – namely stress. Continue reading “Get Healthy and Fit on the Cheap”

Does Your Wellness Program Include a Wealth Factor?

July 13, 2010

I just got off the phone today with an employee who remembered a quote I had made during a recent Retirement Readiness workshop he had attended where I talked about the 3 ingredients to a secure retirement – Health, Wealth, and Happiness. I was so amazed he remembered it, but he said he had never thought about how his health could impact his retirement, and it had really struck a chord with him. Our health is very important, since all the money in the world can’t buy back our physical well-being. However, our finances DO have an impact: money problems are the number one cause of stress and stress-related illness.

Continue reading “Does Your Wellness Program Include a Wealth Factor?”