As we round out The Everygirl’s 2024 January Challenge, there’s one thing just about all of us can work on in some way as we launch into the new year: our financial success. No matter where you are in your financial wellness journey, there’s always something you can do to be more on top of it. Maybe you’ve finally paid off all of your debt and want to focus on saving and investing; maybe you want to stick to a budget this year, or maybe you simply want to get started on your taxes a few weeks earlier. Regardless of what your financial goals look like, we’ve got you covered with a week of exercises that are sure to put you in an abundance mindset as the first month of the year comes to a close.
On The Everygirl Podcast this week, we’ll be covering financial wellness with the President of Retail Banking at Bank of America, Holly O’Neill. However, this week of the challenge goes beyond defining financial wellness with experts—it also involves prompts, guides, and exercises that will set you up for success as you seek to improve your relationship with finances and reach your financial goals in the new year. Without further ado, here is everything you need to complete the final week of the January Challenge.
Before we actually become financially well, we have to define what financial wellness really is. This article breaks down five simple steps to achieving financial success so that you can pursue your money goals with all of the resources you need in your back pocket. From creating a budget to starting an emergency fund, this article has everything you need to get started.
Our interview with Bank of America executive Holly O’Neill is full of super-helpful tips for getting started on your financial wellness journey. Plus, O’Neill provides useful mindset reframes for changing your relationship with money.
Wednesday: Have a financial check-in date with yourself
Time for a money date! Grab a journal, spreadsheet, or your budgeting platform of choice, and get down to business. Add up all your necessary expenses per month, check in on your budget, set up automation for bills and paying debt, etc. If you need a little treat to get through this check-in, we won’t judge—positive reinforcement is what makes a habit!
New to budgeting or need a serious budget revamp? Consider this article your Budgeting 101 class. From detailed breakdowns of budgeting apps to advice for spending according to your values, this will motivate you to create a plan that is super-individualized and works for you.
Our interview with Her First 100k founder Tori Dunlap remains a listener favorite. In this episode, Tori covers why it is so important for women specifically to be educated on their finances and how to break that glass ceiling with your own financial success.
Saturday: Pick a finance affirmation you need for this year
We all have those days when we could use a little extra affirmation as we strive to reach our financial goals. Read through this list of finance affirmations and pick one that stands out so you can return to it throughout the year, and then write it on a post-it note to post on your desk or make it your phone background.
Sunday: Make a spending plan that works for you
Ready to launch yourself into 2024 with the financial wellness basics in your back pocket? Create a spending plan that works for you, adjusting your budget based on what matters most to you right now. You can either reevaluate what’s working and what’s not working from your 2023 spending plan or start from scratch. You’ll close out the month ready to crush your financial goals this year.