January is Financial Wellness month. It is a new year and many of us have resolved to be better this year – physically or financially. We all know from experience, that change does not happen all at once. It takes time. It takes dedication. It takes work. And the results can be so worth it.  With this in mind, I offer you some of my favorite financial wellness lifestyle tips:

• Freedom of choice, financially, is wonderful & liberating. Plan for it

• Buy Carefully: The value of most “assets” depreciates as soon as you buy them. Spend as little as possible on these items

• Invest: Put your money in assets that can appreciate. Diversify

• Value people first. Looks fade. Money can go away. Heart remains. Choose heart

• Life is more about relationships and experiences. Build & grow your relationships. Live life fully. Volunteer. Be Uncomfortable. Give

• “Pay “your self first” and then live well within your means. This will not always work, but do it as much as possible

• Live debt free – this provides you freedom. Don’t get stuck living in a “paycheck to paycheck” world or in a job you might not like, simply because you have to pay the bills

• Stay out of debt (other than a mortgage and if necessary for a car and student loans)

• Plan financially – know your tax bracket and try to defer some of your income by investing in a 401K, IRA, etc. Build for tomorrow. Get the maximum company match. Don’t leave money on the table

• Learn to “stretch your dollars”. Be creative. Living simple can be as much fun as living expensive. Find bargains. Use restaurant.com, Living Social. Trade services. Be a part of the “Sharing Economy”. Have fun. Value Simplicity

• Be grateful for what you have. Share with those that have less. Celebrate your “XX” birthday with friends by packing an equal amount of “XX” lunches & deliver them to the homeless as a group – on the streets, downtown, near the bridges. Take toiletries, extra jackets, or new socks as additional gifts. Think about giving and not getting. You’ll receive more than you give

• Learn to delay short-term wants to meet long -term goals. Less instant gratification today pays big dividends. In addition to financial rewards, we dream, wish, and work to get what we want. We prioritize by importance. Do I want this today or do I need/want something different for tomorrow? We build self- esteem. We become more who we were created to be.  We grow. We become a good role model for our kids & our community.

Life is meant to be good. Not easy but good.  Remember:

Good Better Best
Never Let it Rest
Until Your Good Gets Better and
Your Better Gets Best
– author unknown