The new year is fast approaching as the holiday season is already in full swing. If you are like most people you are probably asking yourself “how the heck is it already the new year again?”
When the year comes to an end, it is a great time to make positive changes and get a clean slate to start from.
So whether you want to start eating healthier, stay fit, save more money, destroy your student loans, start a side hustle, improve your relationships, increase your income, or even start your own business this is YOUR year!
The best way to make positive changes in your life is to create goals and write them down. Trust me this actually works!
So without further ado, here is our list of 15 New Year’s resolution ideas that will make 2021 the best year ever!
New Years Resolution Idea: Make More Money
Do you want to earn more money this year? How would a few extra hundred or even thousand dollars a month sound?
You could use this extra money to save for retirement, pay off student loan debt, save for a down payment on a house, or even go on an awesome vacation!
Whatever financial goals you have in mind for 2018 a side hustle can help get you there fast. Below are some of our favorites that we have personally used to increase our monthly income.
1. Make Money While You Watch TV
There is a reason this is the first New Year’s resolution on our list. Does making money while you watch TV sound too good to be true? Well, it’s not!
Taking online surveys is a legit side hustle that can earn you a few hundred dollars a month if you dedicate yourself too it.
Some survey companies will even pay you just for signing up, it’s like winning a small scratch off.
Not all survey companies are the same. Below we have listed the highest paying companies we have personally used to earn extra income from.
- Swagbucks ($5 signup bonus)
- Pinecone Research
- MyPoints
- Inbox Dollars ($5 signup bonus)
- Survey Junkie
If you are really looking to turn this into an incredible side hustle you can check out our full list of more than twenty legitimate survey companies.
2. Start A Money Making Blog
Have you ever thought about starting your very own money making blog?
We are so blessed that we did because our blog is now averaging a few thousand dollars a month in income.
If you have a passion you love to talk about why not make money with it? For us, we LOVE talking about a bunch of topics like personal finance, food, lifestyle hacks, relationships, blogging, and travel.
While starting a blog is a great way to make extra money it is not a quick way. Blogging takes a lot of time and effort to get past the learning curve and start making money.
The great part is you can start your blog part-time like we did. When we started our blog we both worked on it part-time while holding down full-time jobs. We did this until we saw enough upside that I felt comfortable quitting my job to run our site full-time.
3. Become A Teacher With VIPKID
Seriously this has been an incredible side hustle and one that you can start earning money very quickly with.
If you have a bachelors degree and some teaching experience (coaching, boy scouts, babysitting, tutoring, etc.) you can start earning $17-$22 per hour teaching English with VIPKID. The best part is you work from home!
If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity head over to our VIPKID review.
4. Test Websites For Cash
Are you always on the internet surfing the web? Are you able to talk out loud as you review a website?
If you answered yes to these questions then you should check out User Testing.
UserTesting is a platform that allows companies to get rapid feedback on their websites and mobile apps.
As a tester, you will be given tests that your profile matches up with. Once you receive a test you will follow the instructions for reviewing the website while simultaneously providing verbal feedback.
5. Start Making Money With Affiliate Marketing
When it comes to making money online there is no better place to start than learning affiliate marketing.
Affiliate marketing is basically promoting the products and service you love and use on a regular basis. Once someone signs up or purchases a product or service you are promoting you get paid a small commission.
This is a great way to learn how to make money online without having to create and sell your own products.
This is one of our favorite ways to make money on our blog. In fact, we make hundreds of dollars a month through affiliate marketing.
Our good friend Michelle created a course called Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing. She is by far one of the top experts in the affiliate marketing field. Her blog is currently making over $100,000 per month!
You can check out our full review of her course here.
New Years Resolution Idea: Eat Healthier and Stay Fit
Each and every year losing weight and getting fit are at the top of everyone’s list.
Last year I set a personal goal to lose 40lbs by our “friendcation” trip to Mexico. With hard work, determination, and accountability partners I was able to complete my goal and take my weight from 215lbs to 175lbs.
The reason I am telling you this it to tell you it is 100% possible for you to lose weight and get in shape this year!
Make this the year you get fit and change your health forever.
1. Start Counting Your Calories
One of the simplest ways to lose weight this year is to count the calories you consume on a daily basis. I found the app MyFitnessPal to be extremely helpful in doing this.
It really comes down to simple math when you are trying to lose weight. You need to burn more calories than you consume.
This means that you need to count EVERY calorie that goes into your mouth. At first, this can be a complete pain in the butt. My advice is to commit to counting your calories for an entire month. Every meal, every snack, every drink, every crumb.
Once you do this for an entire month it will become a habit and a routine. It will start to get very easy and you will learn SO much about your diet and where you can improve.
2. Stay Active & Incorporate The Gym
The second part that goes hand in hand with counting calories is staying as active as possible.
Like I mentioned above losing weight comes down to simple math, burn more calories than you consume.
Whether it’s joining a community sports league, jogging, hiking or the old fashion lifting weights at the gym make staying active a priority in your life.
Here is a great list of activities for staying active without breaking the budget.
3. Start Eating More Superfoods
What’s a superfood? A food that is jammed pack with nutrients and vitamins you need to live a happy and healthy lifestyle.
We created a superfoods list that will blow your socks off! These foods are incredible when it comes to dieting and losing weight.
Start implementing these foods into your diet and you will be shedding the pounds more quickly than you ever thought possible.
Related: How to Not Let Food Waste Destroy Your Budget
4. Try Some YouTube Workouts
Brittany and I have been all over the yoga game lately! Since we don’t know very much about yoga, naturally our first place to look was YouTube.
YouTube is packed with free workout videos. One of our favorite instructors is Adriene who runs the channel Yoga With Adriene.
With so many options the possibilities are endless. YouTube for the win once again!
5. Get A Weightloss Accountability Partner
With any New Year’s resolution goal you set it’s important to share them with others. Having someone else to hold you accountable for your goals straight up works!
Find a family member or friend you can trust and let them know the goals you have. If they are willing to workout and eat healthy alongside you, your chances of success skyrocket!
New Years Resolution Idea: Save More Money
Increasing your income is not always the easiest way to take control of your finances. In many cases creating a simple budget and reducing your expenses can make a HUGE impact on your overall financial situation.
If you are looking to create an emergency fund, max out your 401(k), save for a vacation, or just add to your safety net these New Years resolutions will help you get there!
1. Live More Frugally This Year
For some reason, people like to get “fancy” once they become an adult. They put too much emphasis on keeping up with the Joneses and creating a certain perspective for others to see them as.
Living more frugally does not mean being cheap. Being frugal means finding the most value in everything you purchase. In doing so you make the most out of every hard-earned dollar you have.
You can learn more about living more frugally with our very popular article 13 Frugal Living Habits That Will Help You Save Money.
2. Shop The Right Way
Everyone shops online in today’s society! But are you doing it correctly and saving as much money as possible?
Companies like Ebates, Swagbucks, and Ibotta will pay you cash back for purchases you make every day.
So whether you are shopping at Amazon, Walmart or eBay make sure you are shopping the savvy way with cash back.
The best part is you can sign up today to earn a $10 sign-up bonus with Ebates and a $10 sign-up bonus with Swagbucks!
3. Payoff Your Debt
This is a tough goal for a majority of millennials that went to college. Too often college students are leaving college with tens of thousands of dollars in debt with no plan of attack for paying them off.
Make this the year you start attacking your debt and get closer to living the debt-free life you have always wanted.
If you are stuck in student loan debt, we highly recommend you check out our partners over at Sofi to learn more about refinancing to a lower interest rate.
4. Reduce Your Monthly Expenses
Utilities probably take up a large chunk of your monthly expenses. So why not learn how to reduce these monthly expenses so you can start saving more money?
Learn more about saving money with your monthly expenses here.
5. Sell Your Expensive Car For A Used Reliable One
Do you have an expensive car loan? Does your monthly payment eat into your budget and prevent you from meeting your financial goals?
If you answered yes, it might be time to consider getting rid of your unneeded expensive car.
Taking out a loan for a depreciating asset is a great way to keep yourself in a financial struggle for many years to come.
The least expensive way to own a car is to buy a used reliable car with cash. Having no monthly car payment will free up hundreds of dollars a month you can use elsewhere.
Remember a $1,000 repair on your used car is much cheaper than a $250 monthly car payment with premium insurance.
BONUS: New Years Resolution Idea: Grow Intellectually
We always like to surprise our readers from time to time and have a bonus section with some even more great tips.
This new year is a chance to continue to learn and develop your skills. If you are like me learning something new never gets old!
I love the challenge of trying something new and developing new skills.
Having a continuous learning mindset will pay dividends in not only your professional life, but you’re personal as well.
1. Take An Online Course With Skill Share
By far one of my favorite platforms for learning a new skill is Skill Share!
With thousands of classes to choose from and a low monthly subscription fee, it’s an incredible option.
You can sign up today and start a free two-month subscription.
2. Listen To Some Podcasts
Podcasts are great because you can multi-task while you listen.
Brittany and I regularly listen to blogging podcasts while we cook, walk the dog, and even on road trips.
You can check out our favorite podcasts that will help you start living frugal and free.
3. Read More Books This Year
Definitely on my New Year’s resolution list this year!
I have always struggled to actually sit down and read a book. Reading has many benefits including, mental health, educating yourself, and relaxation.
This year I have set a goal to read six books front to back. That gives me a pace of completing a book every other month. Hold me to it now guys!
You can check out our list of our favorite personal finance books that will help you become a personal finance mastermind.
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