New year, new you! Many people set resolutions for the new year with the goal of becoming better versions of themselves.
Schedule a No-Spend Month
For some people, this may mean participating in no-spend November or no-spend January. Take a look at your calendar for 2023. Pick a month without holidays, birthdays, vacations or other major events scheduled. Designate this month as your no-spend month. You’ll be able to participate in the challenge without any major distractions. By the end of 2023, you’ll have some extra money in savings and may even be able to pay down debt.
Pick Up a New Hobby
There are many benefits to having hobbies in your life, including the ability to learn a new skill and bond with other individuals who share similar interests. Best of all, many hobbies are low-cost for getting started — e.g., sewing or knitting, drawing and learning how to play a board game.
The new hobby you pick up could, in time, even become a side hustle. You may join a spin class and become an instructor, spend time cooking and start a cooking blog or become proficient in yard work and offer your services to the neighborhood.
Sign Up for a Library Card
If you don’t already have a library card, now is the time to head to your local library branch and sign up for one. Your library card is a fantastic resource for making and keeping affordable New Year’s resolutions. If you plan on reading more in 2023, you can use your library card to check out books instead of purchasing every book on your list. Or, if your resolution is to cut the cord on streaming services, you can check out movies.
Get Active in Your Community
When was the last time you checked in with your local chamber of commerce or neighborhood website?
Start the new year by signing up for e-newsletters and alerts from city leadership. Some cities send out weekly e-newsletters from mayors announcing the openings of new stores or businesses and upcoming free events for members of the community.
It’s one of the fastest ways to find affordable fun events for everyone in the family without needing to travel far or spend a lot of money. Plus, you can mingle with other neighbors and fellow members of the community.
*Article from gobankingrates.com
*Written by Heather Taylor