{"id":171061,"date":"2025-12-06T21:40:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T21:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/171061\/"},"modified":"2025-12-06T21:40:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T21:40:10","slug":"6-money-habits-to-set-you-up-for-a-stress-free-new-year-according-to-a-cfp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/171061\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Money Habits To Set You Up for a Stress-Free New Year, According to a CFP"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, your world does not magically transform \u2014 though you may spring out of bed the next morning (or, you know, late afternoon) motivated to make it your year. Having a clean slate financially<\/a> can help alleviate a major source of stress and set you up for success in all areas of life. But the temptations to spend big and often \u2014 especially during the holidays \u2014 can overwhelm you. So, how do you ensure your finances let you enter the new year with hope instead of dread at all the bills coming due<\/a>?<\/p>\n

For You: The No. 1 Way Americans Become Millionaires Is Pretty Boring \u2014 and Easy To Do<\/a><\/p>\n

Find Out: How You Could Pocket an Extra $2K* This Holiday Season \u2014 Just for Signing Up for This All-in-One Finance App<\/a><\/p>\n

Luckily, embracing smart money habits before the new year is far easier \u2014 and more fun \u2014 than drinking kale smoothies or prepping for a 5K. According to Taylor Kovar<\/a>, CFP and founder of 11 Financial<\/a>, making a few small yet strategic changes can make a big difference in your financial comfort \u2014 and peace of mind \u2014 in the new year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. Be Honest About Where You\u2019re Starting<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re going over the river and through the woods to Grandmother\u2019s house or toward a more successful financial plan, you need a map. And every map has a starting point. To chart the most effective course for growing your wealth in the new year, Kovar recommends taking a clear inventory of your finances<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Learning how you spend your money isn\u2019t about self-recrimination; it\u2019s about understanding how you can help yourself reach your goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest habit I\u2019ve been talking about is simply taking a clear, honest look at where your money went this year and making a few decisions about what you want to continue and what you want to change,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen people finally pause long enough to look at their numbers, they usually feel more in control almost immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

Explore More: I\u2019m a Self-Made Millionaire: 6 Steps I Took To Become Rich on an Average Salary<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Start the New Year With One Financial Win<\/p>\n

Kovar is a big believer in momentum. That\u2019s why he encourages racking up one easy financial win before the new year to help bolster your confidence and get the good-habit train rolling down the track.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether that\u2019s setting up an automatic transfer, making a small increase to a retirement contribution<\/a> or calling a service provider to negotiate a better rate \u2026 those simple actions build confidence and give you momentum heading into the new year without putting too much pressure on yourself,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

3. Embrace Manageable Steps Instead of Massive Changes<\/p>\n

One of the most common mistakes Kovar sees is the rush to overhaul personal finances all at once. This intensity can spark burnout \u2014 often before you see any real results.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of launching into a massive reset, it usually works better to make consistent, manageable adjustments, like reviewing subscriptions you forgot about<\/a>, comparing insurance rates or making sure you\u2019re getting your full employer match,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Though these improvements may feel small, you\u2019re more likely to stick with them long term, which makes a meaningful difference.<\/p>\n

4. Review Your Accounts Regularly<\/p>\n

All too often \u2014 especially after the holiday spending rush \u2014 people make like an ostrich when it comes to their accounts, sticking their heads in the sand so they don\u2019t have to confront reality. Kovar acknowledges that reviewing your accounts can feel stressful, but not knowing what\u2019s going on with your money can lead to even greater stress later on.<\/p>\n

\u201cIgnoring it only increases the pressure,\u201d he said. \u201cSpending even a few minutes reviewing your accounts can stop problems from snowballing and give you a sense of direction again.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. Create a Short-Term Plan To Counteract Overspending<\/p>\n

So, you overspent this holiday season<\/a>. It happens \u2014 a lot. Kovar wants you to give yourself grace and know you haven\u2019t derailed your entire financial plan. The best way to bounce back is to create a simple, short-term plan \u2014 think the next couple of months \u2014 that curtails some optional spending and focuses on one clear goal.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you take a step back and make space for a few small adjustments instead of trying to fix everything overnight, you\u2019re much more likely to stay with it,\u201d he said. \u201cOverspending doesn\u2019t have to be a setback. Sometimes it\u2019s just a reminder to realign and start fresh.\u201d<\/p>\n

6. Find Methods That Work for You<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot of advice out there about achieving financial goals like saving more or paying off debt<\/a>. And it\u2019s easy to feel like a failure if that advice just doesn\u2019t work for you.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people get frustrated because they try to follow whatever method worked for someone else,\u201d Kovar said. \u201cThe truth is that everyone thinks about money differently, and the habits that feel natural to one person might feel impossible for the next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Working with a financial advisor can help you better understand your own tendencies and identify the financial strategies that you\u2019ll actually stick with.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you understand your own tendencies and the way you naturally make financial decisions, it becomes much easier to create a plan that actually fits your life instead of fighting against it,\u201d he said. \u201cOnce the plan fits, staying consistent becomes a lot more realistic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts<\/p>\n

You can blaze into the new year with big goals for yourself and your money, but sometimes small actions \u2014 like understanding where you are financially and finding behaviors you can stick with \u2014 will have the biggest lasting impact. It\u2019s better to know your own habits, find an expert you can trust, and build a plan that supports both your finances and your peace of mind.<\/p>\n

Need a little extra holiday magic in your budget? MoneyLion is giving away $2,000 a day for 50 days starting Dec. 5<\/a> \u2014 a real way to breathe a little easier this season. Sign up and see if this festive windfall lands under your tree.<\/p>\n

More From GOBankingRates<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on
\n GOBankingRates.com<\/a>:
\n 6 Money Habits To Set You Up for a Stress-Free New Year, According to a CFP<\/a><\/p>\n

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, your world does not magically transform \u2014 though you may…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":171062,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[138,246,111,139,69,244,245],"class_list":{"0":"post-171061","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-personal-finance","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-finance","10":"tag-new-zealand","11":"tag-newzealand","12":"tag-nz","13":"tag-personal-finance","14":"tag-personalfinance"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171061","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171061"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171061\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/171062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}