Evan Vitale

Evan Vitale – Here’s To Better Health in 2017

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By Evan Vitale

One of the things you can work on in the new year – and save money – is staying healthy and looking good at the same time.

Health care, as you probably know, is expensive. You may not have any health benefits (or perhaps you might lose them a la ObamaCare) or your benefits are at a minimum depending on your employment situation.

Either way, missing work due to a cold; the flu or other ailments can cause financial stress in both short-term and long-term situations. Therefore, here are some tips to help you become a healthier person this year:

  • Eat healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits and chicken – increase your proteins and cut back on fatty foods. A friend of mine is replacing chocolate, soda and sweets with oranges, celery, and water.
  • Always eat breakfast. Oatmeal; unsweetened cereal or eggs are best, but if you’re running short on time in the morning, a slice of whole grain toast or a bagel is better than nothing. Later in the morning, think veggies; fruits or nuts.
  • Do some type of exercise which can include dancing; walking or riding a bike. A friend of mine lives approximately one mile from his office. He doesn’t walk to work (to avoid building up a sweat), but he walks home at a good pace every day. Nice!
  • Don’t stress out. Stress has a huge impact on your health. Try not to involve yourself in stressful situations (this includes family drama). Work on yourself. Exercise also helps reduce the impact of stress.
  • Now that you are starting to feel better about your healthy choices, you’ll start to look better too. Take pride in your looks; the clothes you wear and how you wear them.

There’s only one “you” and you’re responsible for taking care of yourself!

Evan Vitale – A Happier New Year

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By Evan Vitale

Since we’re early in 2017, you’ll still hear people telling each other (and you) to have a “Happy New Year!”

Is it possible? Can you REALLY have a happy time; a good time in 2017? Can this year truly be a great year for you; your family; your currently employment and more?

One thing is for sure: You and only you can make yourself happy. Don’t wait for something or someone else to come along and make you happy. You are in control of your happiness.

Of course, for some, an improvement in their current lives can help their happiness, but it’s going to be different for each person. For example, a new car; a new house, condo or apartment; a vacation; more money; a job promotion or a new job, etc. Those are all obtainable goals, but they can feel like mountains!

While you might be working towards a larger goal this year, make sure that you are also winning in other areas of your life that you can control. For example, breaking a habit like smoking or cutting back on your sugar intake; feeling healthier by walking for a few minutes each day; being more selective in your eating habits; creating and following a budget, etc.

Winning with small goals (such as creating and following a budget) will help you save more money which, in turn, can help you reach a bigger goal of taking a dream vacation or having enough cash on hand for a down payment on a car.

Let’s be clear: money can’t buy you happiness as the above scenario is only an example. For some, spending more time with family members creates happiness for you (and for others). Volunteering helps make people – both the giver and the receiver – happy.

Find things that you like to do that will create more happiness in your lives (and in lives of others). This will help you create a truly “Happy New Year” this year for you.

Evan Vitale – Improve Your Budget This Year

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By Evan Vitale

Happy New Year!

Now, let’s really get down to work – starting today – in making 2017 a great year for you by taking the necessary steps in erasing (or significantly lowering) your debt and improving your budget.

The beginning of the year is a good time to take a look at your expenses and your debt and making some good decisions to start the year off fresh.

Ready? Here we go:

  • Take a look at where your budget is leaking money. Make there are some unpredictable expenses or, perhaps, you didn’t account for some extra income (which is always nice). Fine tune your budget to completely fill in the gaps so as to make your budget more accurate.
  • Analyze your spending and see if there is anything out of the normal. Check your budgeted categories and make sure that they are realistically reflecting your lifestyle. Make necessary adjustments.
  • Check to see if you are buying too many of one or two items. For example, how much money are you spending each year on those extra “lattes” every day at your local coffee shop or, perhaps, are you spending too much money (and too often) on music downloads; DVDs; books; movie tickets or eating out at lunch. Work hard on reducing these amounts.
  • Re-evaluate your overall plan so that you can have the funds needed in order to reduce your debt (such as credit card debt) or to start saving more.

By studying; analyzing and re-working your budget, you can make logical changes to reduce extra spending; plug holes in your budget for unexpected expenses and work harder in the upcoming new year to erase debt and build more wealth.

 

Evan Vitale – New Year Resolutions

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By Evan Vitale

Are you setting any resolutions or goals for the upcoming year?

Believe-it-or-not, a somewhat recent Forbes study showed that only 8% of Americans actually achieved their New Year’s resolutions. On top of that, only 45% of Americans actually make New Year’s resolutions consistently with the other 55% who rarely make them or never make them at all.

Perhaps we tend to get wrapped up in the moment of a New Year’s Eve party or watching the ball drop on television to realize that make the past year wasn’t that good for us or that we have expectations that, somehow, we’re going to make improvements in our lives for the upcoming year.

Then, 365 days later, we repeat the process. “This year is going to be better no matter what,” we think.

While it can be fun to set a New Year’s Resolution (and impress your family and friends), you should take them seriously and turn them into goals for your life. For example:

  • Think about what you really want.
  • Reflect to the past year; consider your greatest moments and achievements and see if you can build on those in the upcoming year.
  • Develop clear outcomes. Losing weight is always a New Year’s Resolution, but other than seeing a lot of people running on New Year’s Day, you need to vision the ultimate outcome of your resolution. Consider your outcomes and goals and develop a plan to work towards them.
  • Create benchmarks.
  • Try to work with a partner. Find someone who has a similar goal and make it a point to hold each other accountable. This will help tremendously!
  • Fully understand what it’s going to take in order for you to reach your goal. Are you going to have to make serious changes and sacrifices in order to reach your resolution?
  • Consistently take action.

Work on your resolution and goal plans for the upcoming New Year and then follow through and work on them daily; weekly and monthly. Remind yourself and others of your goal and how you’re progressing.