Forget the rush at the end of the tax year, now’s a good time to sort out your finances.
It's easy to start the year with good intentions only to ignore your finances after a few months, but a regular check up can help you keep the pounds.
If you’re super organised when it comes to your money you probably give yourself a money health check on a regular basis. But if you’re the kind of person who just manages to get through from month to month, you may not have the time or inclination to take a step back and plan your finances. But it’s worth doing. If the task itself fills you with dread, concentrate on how you’ll feel after you’ve finished and – if necessary – line up a treat as a reward!
How to keep on top of your finances in 2010; money habits that will last all year.
Many of us break our New Year's resolutions in the first few weeks, but there are ways of getting more from your money without struggling.
I have very mixed feelings about making New Year’s resolutions. It can definitely be useful to write down some plans or goals for the coming year and to think about how you’ll achieve them. But resolving to get fit, land a dream job or lose weight - without thinking about how you'll do it - can mean you set yourself up for failure. It’s the same with money. If you'd like to get more from your money in 2010, there are ways to do that – but you’ll need a plan.
Return, recycle, regift – what do you do with presents you don’t want?
It’s supposed to be the thought that counts, but every year thousands of us take unwanted presents back to the shops or give them to someone else.
What’s the worst present you’ve ever received? Clothes that are several sizes too big (or small)? Cheap toiletries better suited to clearing the drains? Or something practical like a washing-up bowl? Whatever your particular nightmare gift, I bet you’ve received many presents over the years that didn’t quite hit the mark. The question is, what do you do with them? Hopefully, you remembered to smile enthusiastically when you were given them(!), but what are your options if you know it’s something you won’t use and you don’t want to hide it away?
