subject: Why Resolutions Fail [print this page] If youve kept up with your resolution so far this year, good for you. Keep at it. If youve already had trouble, theres still time to get back on track.
The reason why we fail to stick to our resolutions so often is because we approach them with a negative attitude. We focus more on what we dont want to do, instead of focusing on what we do want. We deny ourselves things we dont want instead of embracing things we do.
Many people have resolutions about making more money in the upcoming year. That is quite positive. However, the methods in which they try to attain it may be negative. For example, they will say they will stop spending so much at restaurants, they wont make as many impulse buys or theyll refuse more invitations to go out. As you can see, the key words in their actions are all negative: stop, wont and refuse. Theyve set themselves up for failure right off the bat. By focusing your energy on doing something rather than not doing something, its much easier to stay positive and achieve your resolutions.
Here are a few positive ways you can grow your money and improve your financial situation in 2011 and beyond.
One of the best ways to get started in your quest for financial improvement in 2011 is to take control of your finances. Realize that you have the power to achieve your financial goals, and come up with the best ways to achieve them. Contact a financial advisor or credit counselor and come up with a workable plan that lets you set and achieve your various financial goals. Dont be ashamed of asking for help from a qualified planner. They can help you put together a realistic budget and put together a great picture of your financial situation and the possibilities that exist.
Once youve taken stock of your financial situation, start working on attaining your goals. If you are carrying debt, make it a top priority to pay it off as fervently as possible. Set up
monthly goals and take the initiative to pay off your most expensive (highest interest) debt first, thus saving you more money in the long run. You can also look at options such as debt consolidation that will make keeping track of debts easier, and possibly offering a lower overall interest rate.
Also, talk to your bank about making automated payments towards your debt, so you dont miss payments or spend somewhere else. Doing this can help substantially with debt reduction.
If you want to improve your financial situation in 2011, keep a positive attitude and work for it. Know that things may get a bit tight for a while, but by keeping at it and staying confident, your situation will improve in time. After all, sometimes it takes a little pain to make big gains!
