The Cure for Holiday (Financial) Overindulgence

Start the New Year off right financially. Write down goals, make a plan, set priorities, assess available resources, and clearly understand your risk profile.

One simple remedy for getting back on track financially is to write down some general goals, like saving for a special purchase. Then make a plan, set priorities, assess your resources, and determine how long it will take to save up to pay for that purchase in cash. Jupiterimages/Photos.com

Have you been naughty this holiday season? Financially, at least, many of us tip over to the “naughty” side, overextending our spending and maxing out our credit cards. I won’t get into other kinds of overindulgence here, but you know what they are.

With the financial kind, there are some fairly simple remedies to get you back on the straight and narrow, and get your New Year started off right.

Set Some Goals

Sure, everyone tells you to “set goals.” And most of us fall into the equally overindulgent trap of setting unachievable goals. That’s a surefire way to frustration and the collapse of your New Year’s financial resolutions before you even get started.