By Theresa Ficazzola
The new year always brings new resolutions, or the promise of finally keeping last year’s resolution that didn’t quite get fulfilled or achieved.
The top new year’s resolutions are always the same: lose weight, eat better, go to the gym, spend more time with family, work less hours, find a better job, and save more, spend less.
GoBankingRates.com surveyed over 5,000 people in 2015 to determine the top resolutions for 2016. This year, for the first time, there was a new number one goal for Americans—enjoying life to the fullest. The company also found that more than half the people surveyed, 57.6%, are setting a money goal.
If you’re one of those people who are looking for ways to save money this year, there are many things you can do to achieve your goal. Consider:
- Creating a budget and sticking to it
- Brown bagging your lunch at least 3 times each week
- Cooking more meals at home and eating out less
- Keeping your car tuned up to avoid costly repairs
- Keeping your home well maintained to avoid significant problems, and costs, in the future
- Using your credit card less
- Paying off your credit card bills in full each month to avoid interest charges
- Taking all that money you’ve saved from these and other tips and stashing it into an investment or an emergency fund (if you don’t already have one or it’s not sufficiently funded)
- Putting a predetermined amount of your pay check into a 401(k), IRA, or other retirement savings plan
If you’re a homeowner, there are additional things you can do to save money on your monthly bills. Installing solar panels on your roof can provide you with significant cost savings. With solar panels, you can:
- Save money by lowering your utility bills
- Go solar for $0 out of pocket
- Save even more money by taking advantage of government tax incentives, state rebates, property tax exemptions, tax abatements or renewable energy credits
- Gain control of your finances by locking in your electric rate, thereby protecting yourself from future utility price increases. Electricity Rates in the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area have increased at a 5% annual rate over the last decade
- Increase your home’s resale value
Happy New Year to you and your families from SI Solar, your local, New York and New Jersey based solar energy company. To find out exactly how much you can save this year—and the years to come—by converting your home to solar power, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.
If you’re one of those people interested in enjoying life to the fullest, remember that the green benefits of solar panels help you, your immediate environment and the planet. And knowing that you did your part to help mother earth can surely help you achieve that goal.
Best wishes for a new year filled with all good things—including meeting your new year’s resolutions—whatever they may be.
