Financial New Year - Getting Your Financial House and Life in Order

The New Year is a time many people talk about starting over. Usually it’s lose weight, exercise and spend more time with the kids.

How about your money, the coin, your personal financial health?

Planning is key to reach any goal. Here is a quick list of places to start for you to begin to get your life with money in order.

• Review What You Did Right!
  Instead of looking to make total sweeping changes, step back and take a look at what you did right. Then look for ways to improve in those areas.
• Get Financial Information Organized
  January 1, is the perfect time to get started keeping your financial records in order. Get yourself a good, easy to use financial accounting program like Quicken, set up you accounts and start the year off by keeping expenses catagorized and up to date.
• Improve At Work
  If the job market tightens or the economy takes a turn for the worse, make sure your job performance is noticed within your company in a positive way.  
• Multiple Income Streams
  Look for additional ways you can bring in income. Ebay, internet marketing, computer repair or setup, local handyman, shopper or child care. Beware of going for the buck. Do something you like and are good at or you will soon grow tired of the task. Make the process of a second income fun!
• Start An Emergency Fund!
  Begin a cash fund to cover those emergencies. Having the money already set aside makes those emergencies only bumps in the road and not mountains.
• Develop a Plan
  Without a plan you are destined to be at the same place you are now. Make a plan with dates to accomplish the plan. Then break it down into small steps to make the plan work.
• Back Up Your Computer
  Computers crash! Make sure you have a back up of the data on your hard drive. Store the data at another location. There are several online places to store data.
• Organize Important Papers
• Even in today’s digital world you will still have paper for insurance policies, warranties, legal documents. Keep them all in a save place, organized so you can get to them quickly in case of an emergency.  
• Check Your Credit / Clean Up Your Credit
  As lenders deal with the mortgage slowdown, take the time to check your personal credit and make sure it is as clean as possible. Pay bills on time, even if you need to maintain a balance. Get a free credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com.
• Grow Your Knowledge
  Continue to learn! The most important asset you have is your brain! Feed it regularly by learning more.
• Enjoy Life
  The hectic pace of today can slowly grind away at people. Take and make time to enjoy your life each day.