January 2023 Financial Checklist
“…Three. Two. One. Happy New Year!!!”
2023 is officially here, folks! And with a brand new year comes brand new opportunities. So, to help you start things off on the right foot – here’s your very first Financial Checklist for 2023!
In your January 2023 Financial Checklist:
1. Set some New Year’s intentions
There’s nothing like the fresh start of a new year to spike your motivation. So now’s a great time to set some new financial goals for the year ahead.
Now it’s no secret that most new year’s resolutions don’t make it past January. So, to keep things a little more attainable, instead of setting strict or unrealistic ‘resolutions’ – why not set some ‘intentions’ that can act as a guide to help steer you towards your bigger goals?
A resolution rarely leaves room for when things pop up in life – making it much easier to slip up and become discouraged. An intention, however, is usually more of a practical guideline that can help you keep sight of the bigger picture.
Here’s an example to help show you the difference between the two:
- Resolution: “I must have X amount of money by the end of 2023.”
- Intention: “In 2023, I will be more intentional with my spending and look for opportunities to save more money.”
See the difference? Making a plan to help you stick to your goals is also important. For example, “I’ll aim to save approximately ‘X amount’ of my monthly pay to help work towards my bigger savings goal”.
2. Get your budget in order
The first step to achieving your financial goals is to set a budget for the year ahead. A budget isn’t there to restrict you. It’s there to ensure you’re spending money on what matters most.
Check out our guide on how to create a budget to help get you started.
3. Ditch any silly season debt
Went a little bit silly with the spending this Christmas? They don’t call it the ‘silly season’ for nothing!
There’s nothing worse than lingering debt – especially when you’re trying to work towards a new financial goal. So, to help start the new year on a clean slate, try to prioritise paying off any outstanding debt as soon as possible.
One way to do this could be to move any existing credit card (or other) debt over to a balance transfer card so you can gradually pay it off without worrying about high-interest payments building up.
4. Lay the seeds for 2023, this Capricorn season
Capricorn! Your ruling planet Saturn (which influences your motivation and goals), will sit in Aquarius for the first two months of 2023. This might mean having a little less control than usual – but on the flip side, there could be more room for experimenting in your career.
As the year goes on, you’ll likely become a magnet for career opportunities – particularly if you start networking now.
By the end of 2023, you might feel a sense of pressure to tick off any incomplete goals – however, what might serve you better is knowing when to switch off and reward yourself for all that hard work! Perhaps with a well-deserved holiday or a new car?
5. What to stream in January 2023
Looking for a fresh batch of content to kickstart the year with? Here’s what’s new on streaming in January 2023:
Well, folks. That was your very first Financial Checklist for 2023. We’ll see you back here in a month for your February 2023 Checklist. For now, go have a browse around our life & money hub!