The holidays are over, 2017 is a thing of the past, and you’re finally ready to take on the new year with ambition. Your list of goals may be miles long, but you’re absolutely set on achieving all that you planned out while waiting for the clock to strike midnight. However, as you review your 2018 travel destinations, new organic diet, and shoes of your dreams (which you totally deserve), you may be thinking “How am I going to afford this whole ‘new year, new me’ thing?” It’s no surprise that when it comes to navigating a new lifestyle, there are a couple of roadblocks along the way. The good thing about roadblocks, though, is that there are usually alternate routes – it may take a little longer to reach your destination but by maintaining a safe and steady course, you’ll get there all the same. Here are some easy ways to make sure you can fund your fabulous 2018!

  1. Write yourself a paycheck – Your boss shouldn’t be the only one writing you checks this year. Nor should you wait until the end of each pay period to scrape together any leftover bills (is that even a thing nowadays?) to put towards your savings. Instead, set up an automatic transfer on pay day so your bank will automatically move the same amount of money from your checking to savings each pay period. Experts usually recommend setting aside 10-20% of your paycheck for savings, but even starting out at just 5% will make a noticeable difference in your account. Pretty soon, you’ll have no problem paying for that vacation you’ve been dreaming about!
  2. Delete all saved credit cards from your web browser – My biggest problem with saving money is the teeny tiny miracle that is Online Shopping. A blessing and a curse, online retail has made my life so much easier…but at the expense of my bank account. Now online retailers are trying to “help” you shop by saving your credit card information for faster checkouts. You literally just have to click the ‘Buy Now’ button and a package magically appears at your door a few days later! However, by eliminating the ‘pain’ that comes with physically paying for a product, we tend to spend more without really noticing. While going to the store and paying with cash would be most effective (but honestly, not that realistic) at reigning in a shopaholic such as myself, deleting your credit card numbers from websites and browsers may prove just as effective. Having to get up, find your wallet, and re-enter your billing info each and every time you check out online may make you more conscious about your purchases and step away from the digital shopping cart.
  3. Nix the coffee runs in 2018 – I was late to the coffee-lovers club and only just discovered the Starbucks app back in September. Going along with tip 2, I didn’t realize how much I was really spending on my grande vanilla almond milk cold brews and holiday drinks. Looking at my ‘reload’ statements on the app, I was met with the harsh reality that I spent over $300 on coffee in three months. That. Is. ABSURD. This year, take advantage of the free coffee at work and buy your own flavored creamers to make it taste to your liking. Or, switch to tea to go along with your resolution of eating healthier! By nixing the seemingly innocent coffee runs, you could save enough money for a roundtrip flight, a new designer bag, or a long, memorable weekend away with your friends.
  4. Click that ‘Unsubscribe’ button – Okay, Netflix is a staple in our lives by now. But all of those other streaming services that you signed up for but never use? It’s time to unsubscribe and delete them. While the monthly charge may seem small (what’s $10 a month, right?), it all adds up and often without your realizing. As soon as you cancel, take the annual fee that you would have paid and put it towards one of your goals for 2018. Also be sure to look over your TV provider’s statements – they can sometimes sneak in some services that you don’t use, nor realize that you’re paying for. 
  5. Talk about it – I grew up learning that there are three things you should never talk about at a dinner party: politics, religion, and money. While we may still want to avoid the first two, I think that opening up the conversation about money to your close friends and family can do wonders. Besides the advice many will be able to offer you, you can also learn about everyone’s unique saving strategies and implement them into your own life. I’m a big believer in the more you know, the more informed decisions you can make with your money. In addition to being more open to money talk, don’t be afraid to ask your boss what you can start improving on in order to earn a pay raise or promotion this year. Having some guidance on your career path will offer you a more streamlined route to both professional and monetary success!

Everyone has their own unique resolutions for the New Year. Whether yours is to create a healthier relationship with money and spending, up the healthy lifestyle ante, or to finally feel comfortable enough to splurge on an experience without feeling like you’re drowning in debt, the key is to start with the small and easy changes. You will be surprised at how easy it will become to build upon these five easy blocks. Cheers to a healthy (and wealthy) 2018!