30 December 2015
It is Resolution Season, that magical time when we pick something we want to accomplish in the coming year and take a solemn vow to make it happen. Solemn being in the eye of the beholder, of course. Most of our pasts are littered with abandoned resolutions.
Tade has actually been keeping a record of our New Year's resolutions for the past couple of decades. She has a small book for just that purpose. She breaks it out somewhere between December 27 and January 2 and we review resolutions from previous years. Then we make this year's resolutions and she dutifully records them for posterity.
Like many Americans, most of my previous resolutions have had something to do with becoming healthier and taking better care of myself. Sometimes my resolutions are general - I will exercise more. Sometimes they are specific - I will go to the gym 3 times per week this year. Usually they are abandoned by February, which is why I must make the same resolutions over and over again.
Looking back, the years where I did best at sticking to my physical fitness resolutions were the years I had someone to workout with. Someone who knew, or even shared, my fitness goals. Someone who knew things about fitness I did not know, and we could discuss techniques. Someone who would note even small amounts of my progress. Someone who would know when I wasn't sticking to my plan. Someone keeping me motivated and accountable.
There's just something about having a partner that makes doing the hard things easier. Many people resolve themselves (at this time of year) to get their personal finances in order. Just like most other resolutions it gets abandoned by February.
Change is hard. Perhaps if people had a partner helping them with their personal finance goals they would be more likely to stick to them. Someone to discuss strategies and techniques. Someone to note small amounts of progress. Someone to provide accountability.
One of my favorite things to do is to help other people reach their financial goals. If you would like to start to work towards yours this year, you should contact me. I will be your partner.
