2012 Financial Goals and Planning Should Start This Week
If you want to get ahead in 2012, eliminate some debts and start saving some money for retirement, the best time to get your plan in place if you don’t already have one is this week. Starting the New Year on the right financial track, could be the difference in hundreds to thousands of dollars that you can budget for and plan to save. Most financial experts would agree the first step in this process is simply to take time to write down all of your weekly, monthly and annual expenses. Once you fully understand where you are spending your money you can begin to strategize ways to reduce some of these expenses and potentially eliminate things that you don’t often use.
Some simple ways to save money in 2012
- Shop for a new cable service package, eliminating some premium channels you may not be watching
- Put your insurance policies on an annual premium
- Apply for a debt consolidation loan at a lower interest rate
- Find out about deals for balance transfer credit cards
- Refinance your home mortgage to a new lower interest rate
- Apply for a home loan modification
- Review your print subscriptions to see if an online version is less expensive
- Eliminate home phone service or consider a VOIP plan
- Avoid the pitfalls of payday loans or cash advance loan providers
- Make shopping lists prior to going to the store
- Plan your shopping trips in advance to reduce impulse purchases
- Check your insulation and window drafts to reduce energy loss
- Find online coupons for big ticket purchases
- Implement a 24 hour cooling off period for any big ticket purchase items
- Exercise more and eat less (making a shift to a healthier could save you thousands of dollars in the future)
- Purchase a used car versus new car, car values drop substantially once they are driven off of the lot
Getting ahead is about trying to make good decisions and stick to a plan. Creating any plan is better than not having goals for the new year, if you start now and take small steps you will be surprised at how the little things can add up quickly. We hope 2012 is a year of prosperity for you and your family and one where some of your financial dreams begin to come true 
What do you think, do you have some other tips for saving money in 2012 and creating a personal financial plan, share your ideas with our readers below.
