Three…two…one… Happy New Year! The start of a new year is a clean slate, encouraging many to declare resolutions or renew old commitments. Leverage this fresh energy to get your financial house in order and set yourself up for success. Here are five financial resolutions to focus on in the coming year:
Getting out of credit card debt
Credit card debt is likely the most expensive debt you’ll ever service. The average credit card interest rate is 20.37% as of December 2024. If you have bad credit, that average rate can go as high as 28.06%.
Still, the good news about credit card debt is that it is entirely voluntary. Being in credit card debt can be easily avoided if you only charge what you can pay in full each month. At that point, the interest rate, or “APR,” on your credit card becomes immaterial as there’s no balance to revolve from month to month and no debt to service.
If, however, you find yourself in credit card debt that cannot be exhausted within a month or two, you may want to consider alternatives such as a debt management program or even settlement. Keep in mind that some of the alternatives to paying your debt in full the traditional way can lead to lower credit scores.
Become an owner rather than a renter
While mortgage rates appear to be easing, they still hover around historic highs — the current national average interest rate is 6.93%.
It’s no secret, it is difficult to become a homeowner right now. However, most major forecasts expect mortgage rates to begin dropping over the next few years, potentially reaching closer to 6% by the end of 2025.
If your credit scores are solid and you have a stable income, 2025 might be the right time to pivot from being a renter to a homeowner. Keep in mind that, unlike mortgage interest rates, property values are going to vary wildly depending on where you live. The median price for an existing home in the U.S. was $404,500 as of September 2024, and is still rising. Inventory has recently been limited and also varies by region.
Still, those who have the financial standing to purchase a home may thank themselves in a few years if values continue to rise. Then, you’ll have created wealth in the form of home equity.
Improve your credit scores
Improving your credit is a mainstay on New Year’s resolution lists year after year. The reason is simple: having good credit is extremely important and an easy way to build wealth. If you have good credit scores, the things you are going to finance will be less expensive. The less you’re paying to a lender each month, the more you’re able to redirect that money elsewhere.
Strategies for improving credit scores are going to vary from consumer to consumer. Some of you may be able to improve your credit scores simply by paying down your credit card debt. Others may have to wait while negative information ages and is eventually removed from your credit reports. Regardless, if you commit to improving your credit scores, the process can begin today.
Commonly used credit scores are scaled with a 300 to 850 range. The higher the score, the better it will be for your borrowing prospects. Having said that, you certainly do not need an 850 in order to secure the best deals lenders have to offer. If you’re able to exceed 750 at all three of the consumer credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) then you’re generally considered to have elite level credit scores.
Start building a retirement nest egg
The stock market hit several record-closes in 2024. In the final month of the year, the United States Stock Market Index reached an all-time high. It was certainly a great year for investors.
Of course, investing in the stock market is not the only way to build a nest egg for your retirement. You can participate in your employer sponsored 401K plan. You can also contribute to a Simplified Employee Pension plan or “SEP”, which is essentially a 401K for self-employed people. Each of these plans allow you to invest now (but defer taxes on your gains until you’re much older) and also to reduce your taxable income each year you contribute.
If 401Ks, SEPs and brokerage accounts are not of interest, then at the very least you should consider building a rainy-day fund with a local bank or credit union. Your deposits are guaranteed by the Federal Government for up to $250,000 and you’ll earn a small amount of interest income on your deposits. Rainy-day funds should optimally equal the sum of your household expenses times the amount of time it will likely take for you to find a new job, if you unfortunately lose the one you currently have.
Freeze your credit reports
Another way to build wealth is to avoid the time and costs of dealing with credit fraud. And while the Fair Credit Billing Act and Electronic Funds Transfer Act significantly limit your downside financial liability of both credit card and debit card fraud, it’s still a good idea to take advantage of what I believe to be the Fort Knox of credit report protection, the credit freeze.
By placing a credit freeze (or “security freeze”) on your three credit reports you will restrict their access to only certain circumstances that are largely controlled by you. For example, if you freeze your three credit reports and a fraudster applies for credit in your name, the lender will not be able to access your credit reports or credit scores. This will stop the fraud in its tracks and prevent a new account from being opened in your name.
Security freezes are free thanks to the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act signed by President Trump in 2018. Prior to 2018 there was a cost to place and remove a security freeze, unless you had been a verified victim of identity theft. In order to place security freezes on your three credit reports you’ll have to contact each of the credit reporting companies independently.
Summary
There’s no better time to begin building financial security than a new calendar year. There are some simple steps you can take in order to position yourself for maximum financial success in the new year. Eliminating expensive debt, investing in a home of your own, contributing to wealth building accounts, improving your credit scores and protecting your credit reports are all fantastic evergreen strategies that anyone can accomplish with minimal investment.
