Every year we feel compelled to start the new year with a New Year’s resolution or two. It starts off great, whether it’s to get fit, or start saving money. Two months in, we start to waver and by three months most of us have given up as life just gets in the way. Sound familiar?

I’m not here to be the grinch, as I am one who definitely does this every year and while some work, some don’t. I have found after 30 odd years of coaching and advising my clients, there are two secrets that we all need to know if we want to give ourselves the best possible chance of reaching our goals, including New Year resolutions:

  1. Firstly, we need to be motivated and we need a clear set of goals, whether that’s to be fit enough to run around with the kids or saving to buy your first home. Simon Sinek says we need to know our WHY, once we know that, the how and what become a lot easier. This will also help motivate us when times get tough.
  2. The other secret is we all need an accountability buddy. Someone you can talk to on a regular basis to keep them up to date with how you’re going, even better if your buddy also has set goals and you can help keep each other accountable. Advisers and money coaches are great for this but if you want to keep the costs down, a good friend or relative will be the next best thing, and it is amazing how knowing you have to turn up each month or quarter to report in, how more motivated you become to get it done compared to doing it yourself.

Best of luck with your New Year’s resolutions.

 

Article by Marc Bineham – Money coach, speaker and award-winning author of The Money Sandwich