Ready. Set. Go: Four Positive Lifestyle Changes to Make This Year -

Updated January 2024

Are you ready for a change? The start of a new year is a great time to take stock of last year’s financial decisions and implement lifestyle changes. That’s why Beyond Finance wants to offer some guidance toward better habits. Let’s look at some positive lifestyle changes to help you transform your finances, confront your challenges, and make lasting changes this year.

The key to change is patience and grace. Remember, no matter your financial situation, it did not happen overnight. This will not be a quick fix. Becoming frustrated with made or forced decisions happens to all of us. However, aiming to take control of your finances means things are moving forward, and relief is coming.

1. Resolutions vs. Goals

Everyone attempts to stick to their New Years’ resolutions. We have seen the fitness craze that peaks at the beginning of the year. Gyms and parks are full, meal prep content is at an all-time high, and people appear super motivated. Around March, everything starts to thin out, the gym has many more available treadmills, and the local fast-food drive-thru lanes are remarkably long.

Instead of going off an adrenaline rush, go with a slow and steady approach. Create goals with realistic timeframes to complete them. When trying to achieve goals, you naturally start developing healthy habits to help obtain them. Those habits will help you make lifestyle changes crucial in your finances and personal life.

2. Prioritize Financial Wellness

Making lifestyle changes will also help set up the younger generation for financial success.

Paying attention to your financial wellness indicates that you are making lifestyle changes rather than temporary fixes. Even if it takes a while to apply the concepts, the information will stick and cause you to think twice.

Financial literacy is usually something not “learned” but rather inherited from our financial role models. Did you have someone who taught you the concepts of saving or budgeting? If not, it’s never too late to learn from others.

That’s why finding podcasts, watching a money-saving video on YouTube, or even scrolling through financial TikToks, will help you soak up the knowledge! Remember, the financial habits and lifestyle changes practiced now become an example for the next generation.

3. Get Organized

Having a monthly budget on hand is a one way to keep your finances organized.

Preparing for the new year and lasting financial change must include prioritizing organization. Tracking and budgeting your finances helps you save more easily and reach those new year goals faster.

People often get confused, thinking spending excessive time and money means structure.

It’s easy to spend hours logging finances in a fancy spreadsheet. That’s not the case. There are tons of free, quick, and easy resources geared toward organizing your finances.

Try free downloadable templates if you prefer to write your budget on paper. No matter how you do it, the sooner you start, the better.

4. Get the Help You Need

Financial stress can be exhausting, let's work to make positive lifestyle changes and relieve that stress.

If you are in over your head during any of the changes listed above or admit you need additional help, it is okay.
Don’t start your new year in agony, worrying about creditors calling. There are solutions out there to help you with your debt. Beyond Finance works with you to help you achieve these things with personal assessments, financial therapy sessions, and other tools to help you move beyond debt for good.