10 financial new year resolutions
At the start of a new year, it’s natural to reflect on what you’d like to achieve over the next 12 months.
According to a YouGov poll, around 1 in 6 Brits make a new year resolution. While improving fitness and doing more exercise in the year ahead is the top goal, improving finances is also common.
Of those setting a new year resolution at the start of 2022:
39% said they wanted to save more money
19% hoped to pursue a career ambition, which could increase income and financial security.
Improving financial wellbeing could support other objectives too, such as taking up a new hobby (15%), decorating or renovating part of their home (14%), or raising money for charity (5%).
So, if you want to take positive steps to improve your financial wellbeing, here are 10 new year resolutions that could help.
1. Set out what you want to achieve this year and beyond
While putting more money into your savings account is often a good idea, knowing what you want to achieve can mean you make decisions that are right for you and provide the motivation you need.
It’s normal to think about what you want to achieve in the next 12 months at new year but setting larger financial goals can make sense too. The financial decisions you make now could affect your wellbeing for decades to come.
Starting with your goals means you can understand which choices are right for you. For instance, knowing what you’re saving for can help you choose the right type of account – does it need to be easily accessible or could it be locked away for two years to access a higher interest rate?
As well as setting out your financial goals, think about the lifestyle you want.
Would putting a bit of money away each month mean you can plan a holiday to a dream destination? Or will adding to your pension mean you can retire early and enjoy the next chapter of your life?
Focusing on how the financial steps you’re taking will improve your life can help you stay on track.
2. Go through your budget and keep track during the year
While reviewing your budget can be a tedious task, it’s a worthwhile one.
It can help you understand your expenses, disposable income, and where you could make better decisions that would help you to achieve your goals. As inflation has been high this year, your outgoings may have changed significantly since you last reviewed your budget.
Writing down your regular expenses could highlight where you could make savings. From cutting out services that you no longer use to reducing your spending in some areas, it can help your money to go further.
Getting into the habit of tracking your spending can be useful too. It means you’re less likely to overspend or forget to move money to your savings account.
3. Create a plan for paying off debt
If you have debt, regularly reviewing it is important. It can make borrowing more affordable and will keep you on track to pay it off.
Your first step should be to take stock of your existing debt, from credit cards to personal loans. Take some time to look at what interest rate you’re paying, and if you currently benefit from an introductory offer, make a note of when it will end.
To combat high inflation, the Bank of England (BoE) has increased its base interest rate. As a result, borrowing is becoming less affordable, and it’s more important that you search for a competitive deal that makes sense for you.
In some cases, transferring to another provider could save you money.
For example, if you have a credit card, are there any lenders offering a 0% balance transfer that you could take advantage of? As you won’t be paying interest it means you could reduce the debt quicker, but you should carefully note when the deal ends and the interest rate you’d be paying after this period.
As well as looking at the interest rate you’re paying, set out how you’ll reduce the amount of debt you have overall. It could improve your long-term financial security.
Breaking down your goal into smaller, realistic targets can be useful. For instance, how much do you want to reduce debt by each month?
What’s your target by the end of 2023?
Making just the minimum repayments will mean it takes you longer to clear the debt and will often cost you more in interest overall. So, if you can, overpaying is often sensible.
If you’re thinking about applying for credit or transferring existing borrowing, make sure you understand the lender’s criteria before applying. An application will usually involve a hard credit check, which will show up on your credit report. Several checks close together could harm your credit score and act as a red flag for other lenders.
4. Review your current mortgage deal
A mortgage is often the largest loan you’ll take out, so it’s worth dedicating particular attention to, even if you’re reviewing other forms of borrowing.
Once your existing mortgage deal ends, you will often be moved on to your lender’s standard variable rate (SVR). While this can provide you with the flexibility to make overpayments, the interest rate usually isn’t competitive. So, knowing when your deal will end and what your other options are is important.
Again, rising interest rates will affect how much your mortgage costs.
If you have a tracker- or variable-rate mortgage, the interest rate you pay, and so your repayments, may change during the term. If you have a fixed- rate mortgage, it will remain the same for a defined period.
Even a small difference in the interest rate you pay can add up.
The below table highlights the effect the interest rate could have if you had a £200,000 repayment mortgage over 25 years.
Source: MoneySavingExpert
Like other forms of borrowing, making mortgage overpayments can reduce the total cost of borrowing.
Keep in mind that some mortgages may restrict how much you can overpay before fees are applied. So, check the terms and conditions of your mortgage.
5. Give your emergency fund a boost
How much do you have saved for a rainy day?
An emergency fund can provide you with a valuable safety net when you need it. From allowing you to repair a leaky roof to covering an unexpected energy bill, it can provide you with financial security.
It’s often advisable to have between three and six months of expenses in an easily accessible account so it’s there when you need it.
Research from HSBC found that having an emergency fund is a priority for many people. 6 in 10 adults said that saving for a rainy day is important to them.
The average emergency fund balance is around £7,606. However, 1 in 5 people have less than £1,000 in their savings account, indicating they could benefit from making boosting their emergency fund a new year resolution to improve financial resilience.
6. Make the most out of your savings
Getting the most out of your savings can help you reach your goals. So, seeing how much interest your savings accounts are paying is a good place to start.
Interest rates have started to rise in the last year as the BoE takes steps to tackle high levels of inflation. As a result, it’s worth shopping around to find an account that’s right for you and offers a competitive rate.
Depending on your goals, it could make sense to choose a savings account that locks your money away. While you won’t be able to make a withdrawal for a set period, you will often be rewarded with a higher interest rate.
If you want to increase your savings, setting up a standing order can help you meet your target and simplify the process.
Managing your savings can help you reach goals, but as interest rates are unlikely to match inflation rates, the value of your savings could be falling in real terms. Depending on your circumstances, investing could provide a solution.
7. Make regular investing part of your plan
One way to combat the effect of inflation on your savings is to invest.
The BoE’s inflation calculator highlights how the rising cost of living can affect savings. If you had £10,000 in a savings account in 2000, it would need to have increased by almost £5,000 over two decades simply to maintain its value in real terms.
Even with interest rates rising, it’s unlikely the interest your savings earn will keep up with inflation.
Historically, markets have delivered returns in real terms over the long term. As a result, investing could provide a way for you to grow your wealth.
If you want to build up your investment portfolio, setting up a regular contribution can help you take steady steps to reach your goal. It’ll also mean you buy stocks and shares at different points of the market cycle, which could help to balance risk and volatility.
You should keep in mind that all investments carry some risk, and it’s important you choose investments that are appropriate for you.
Volatility is part of investing, and the value of your investment may fall.
8. Secure your retirement by increasing pension contributions
It’s never too soon to start thinking about your retirement. Whether the milestone is just around the corner or years away, increasing your pension contributions now could help you secure the lifestyle you want in the future.
Start by reviewing how much you currently have in your pension and what contributions, including those made on your behalf, are regularly being made. Look at your budget and see how much you can realistically increase your contributions.
Not only will you be adding more to your pension, but your contributions will normally also benefit from tax relief to give your pension an extra boost.
Your pension is usually invested, so it’s also worth reviewing how it’s invested to ensure it aligns with your goals and risk profile – it could help your contributions go further.
If you’re not sure if you’re on track to deliver the income you want in retirement, a review with a financial planner can help.
9. Get your estate plan in order
If you’ve been putting off getting your affairs in order, resolve to take control of your estate in 2023.
While it can be difficult to think about, organising your affairs can give you peace of mind and ensure your wishes are followed.
10. Schedule a financial review
A financial review can help balance your goals for 2023 with long-term aspirations. It can give you confidence in the decisions you make. Regular reviews with a financial planner can help ensure you remain on track and that your plan continues to reflect your needs.
