Finance Round-up: Financial resolutions

With apologies to Jane Austen but it is a truth universally acknowledged that January is the month that our finances are looking at their worst. Pay day seems an age away, credit and store card bills are starting to come in and the bank balance is looking decidedly poorly.  So my team of financial bloggers have been busy sorting out New Year’s checklists, clearing Christmas debts,sorting  business plans for 2017 and even finding ways to start saving for next Christmas to help you get through these cash-strapped weeks.

If we are having a New Year’s post then we have to start with some resolutions. There are plenty out there but Sara from Debt Camel has come up with a new way of looking at resolutions. She says you should go for the SMART method which stands for Specific, Measurable, Aligned, Realistic, Timed. You may find your resolutions are still going strong in a couple of months time with this method.

With a new baby due and now on maternity pay Thrifty Mum Hollie has been planning her financial year ahead. With so many changes to her finances and family life in 2017 she has drawn up a list of goals which includes saving for a mystery life-changing purchase. Stay tuned for updates!

Too early to start thinking about Christmas 2017? Never says Skint Dad, Ricky who advises saving with supermarket savings clubs. With the money tucked away until Christmas and a nice little bonus if you save enough you could find your turkey dinner and New Year’s party food and drink all paid for weeks in advance.

Still not convinced about resolutions and actually being able to save money throughout the year? Well Faith from Much More With Less made a note of all her financial comings and goings in 2016 and found that her cost savings and extra earnings in 2016 came to a whopping £9,000! Follow Faith’s 2017 journey on Twitter with the hashtag #MoneySavingYear.

How much extra food did you go through at Christmas and New Year? Suddenly meal plans and weekly budgets go out of the window at Christmas but now is the time to start saving money by making use of your festive leftovers. Kelly from Reduced Grub shows us how to make proper homemade chicken nuggets made from real chicken (reduced of course!) and the neglected remains of the cheese biscuit box.

I don’t know what it has been like where you are but these first weeks of 2017 have been freezing where I live. Cold temperatures and gloomy days mean your heating and energy bills can rocket in these winter months. One way to save money is by switching energy suppliers and Katykicker shows us how easy it can be and how she saved £137 in the process.

If your finances are looking a bit low and you don’t know how to earn some more money it’s time to think of some money making schemes. One long term option is becoming a landlord and Nadine at JuggleMum has been looking at the options available. If pensions aren’t doing it for you then perhaps property is the way ahead.

For some other short term options David at Thinking Thrifty has made a list of ways to start earning extra money. Start thinking about pet sitting and buying items to sell on at a profit at car boot sales and eBay.

For more money making ideas have a look at Andy’s six easy ways to make £2,000 on his blog Be Clever With Your Cash. Check your bank account for cashback deals and what interest rates they are offering. You could be in for a windfall without doing much.

For the past month now on social media I have seen many people discussing the ‘Penny Challenge’ and how this regular savings plan could save you around £600 a year. Well, Nicola residing at The Frugal Cottage can go one better with a simple trick that can save you around £100 per month! If you bank online head on over to have a look at this simple trick.

If all of this this seems rather overwhelming then perhaps a course would be of benefit to you. You can sign up for a free 7 day course at EmmaDrew.Info where you can learn how to create a budget and increase your income. For those feeling a little more confident then have a go at the mini challenge at the best way to save money in 2017 at Your Money, Sorted.

How are your New Year finances looking? Do you have plans this year to make extra income or save some money?

If you want to be included in a future finance round-up you can contact me through my Facebook page or on Twitter.