FORT WORTH — The New Year marks the beginning of new goals, opportunities and exciting adventures. For some, it is a time of reflection on past experiences, accomplishments and failures. For most, the New Year is a time to determine and undertake new improvements and to set new financial goals.
Setting financial resolutions and keeping them are two different issues. It’s easy to know what you want and to get excited about your New Year’s aspirations. The hard part is staying focused enough to accomplish the goals you have set for yourself. In fact, research shows that 37 percent of consumers don’t keep the resolutions they initially set. With this in mind, plan carefully, stay focused, and make this New Year’s commitments stick by taking a little advice from the experts Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS) of Greater Fort Worth, a division of Money Management International (MMI):
n Be specific. Wanting to save more is great, but if you end up saving merely a third of what you initially intended, you really did not accomplish your goal. Focus on practical goals with measurable results. Clearly stating your goals and how you intend to achieve them will keep your resolutions realistic.
n Have a strategy. Financial goals can be overwhelming. It is important to break the big goals down. If your target is to save $2,500 for the year, plan to put away $50 a week. This will help you create a realistic budget that you can stick to and help you feel less discouraged; you will actually see yourself making progress toward your goal.
n Stay committed. Remind yourself of your goals on a regular basis. At the very least, you should write them down and post them where they can be seen everyday. If one of your goals is to buy a new car, or do some home improvements, it may not be a bad idea to surround yourself with photographs of what you are striving for.
n Budget, budget, budget. You cannot talk about financial goals without talking about the importance of budgeting. The first step in creating a budget is determining what will work for you. Being realistic about expenses and your spending is key. Consider tracking your expenses for two weeks so you can identify areas where you can cut back.
“Expect a challenge when trying to achieve new goals, but don’t give up,” said Marianne Gray D’Aquila, president for CCCS of Greater Fort Worth. “The opportunity to create new resolutions only comes around once a year. Once you have decided what you want to accomplish, be confident. Remember, a little discipline can help you enjoy a happy and prosperous New Year.”
For additional tips on how to achieve your financial goals for 2008 attend MMI’s free Webinar, “New Year’s Resolution: Put your debt on a diet,” Jan. 8 at 9 p.m. EST. Simply visit www.moneymanagement.org and click on “Live Webinars” on the left hand navigation. Webinar attendees will learn how to prioritize financial goals, develop budgets and pay down debt.
About Consumer Credit Counseling Services
Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS) is a non-profit, full-service credit-counseling agency, providing confidential financial guidance, counseling and debt management assistance to consumers since 1958. CCCS helps consumers trim their expenses, develop a spending plan and repay debts. Counseling is available by appointment in branch offices and 24/7 by telephone and Internet. Services are available in English or Spanish. To learn more, call (800) 762-2271 or visit their Web site at www.moneymanagement.org.
Lifestyles
New year, new commitments: CCCS provides helpful tips for attaining 2008 financial goals
- Lifestyles
-
-
Weaver, Benefiel tie the knot in Grapevine
Rikki Leigh Weaver and Brandon Joe Benefiel united in marriage the evening of May 4, 2013, at Delaney Vineyards in Grapevine.
-
From daughter to mother: a special Mother’s Day reflection
For this Mother’s Day I thought I would say something special about my mom. I rarely say anything, I guess because I take a lot of what she does for granted, because she is mom to me. But there is more to this woman than I could ever have hoped for.
-
Audet, Richardson plan October nuptials
Michele and Jim Audet, of Weatherford, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Nicole Rene Audet, to Scott Maclean Richardson, of Washington, D.C.
-
Richards celebrate 60 years of marriage
Celebrating 60 years of love and marriage, David and Jewell Richards of Weatherford are happy to announce their anniversary this May.
-
Bunns to celebrate 25th anniversary
Spending a quarter of a century in love with one person is to be celebrated.
-
WB, Totsie Cook celebrate 70 years of marriage
William Burton Cook and Totsie Dean Grisham celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on April 24. They were married at Shep, Taylor County, Texas, the evening of April 24, 1943, in the home of Rev. Willie Brown, the local Baptist pastor, with Mrs. Brown as the witness.
-
White, Rigacci unite in marriage
Brittany White and Fernando Rigacci were united in marriage March 23, 2013, in the Rotunda at the Dallas Petroleum Club.
-
Horton, Williams engaged
Eddie and Kathryn Horton are pleased to announce the engagament of their daughter, Kathryn Renee Horton to Nathan Douglas Williams, son of Michael and Charla Williams of Amarillo.
-
Stowe-Coronado engaged
Roy and Leslie Stowe, of Azle, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Megan Nicole Stowe, to David Michael Coronado, son of Dave and Debbie Coronado, of Comanche.
-
Cooper-Sauer to wed
Jessica Cooper and Matt Sauer announce their plans to wed May 11 at Brock Baptist Church.
- More Lifestyles Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
