Airfare to air fryers. Thai food to tie clips. Memorabilia to memory foam. You can purchase just about anything these days with a buy now, pay later (BNPL) plan. In 2022 alone, consumers in the US bought around $250 billion in goods using BNPLs. The allure of making a small initial payment and splitting the remaining obligation into a series of automatic withdrawals is undeniable. The question remains: Is this a smart way to gain spending flexibility or a tool rife for accumulating bad debt?

Last month we introduced the “2×2” financial wellness planning system. Why is it called 2×2? You set aside two hours on the calendar two times a month to complete a predetermined financial task. With this modest but consistent effort, you’ll sustain financial health and build wealth in easy bite-sized chunks that you check off the list each month.

Let’s be honest. A whole slew of Americans, almost two-thirds by several counts, have no idea how much money they spend in a month. They also have little idea where their money goes. Yes, taxes and other deductions take a chunk right off the top of their paychecks, but the rest seems to just evaporate. If this sounds familiar, the first piece of good news is that it’s not just you.

emergency fund for whatever life throws at us. If you’re still recovering from the financial fallout of COVID, saving for a future emergency may still seem like a distant dream for “one of these days”, but there are creative ways to start adding to your stash now that won’t impact your daily life, even when times are tight.

There is something about the dawn of a new year that brings out our willingness to kick old habits to the curb and start afresh. If you’re ready to create impactful and effective financial resolutions that best serve you and your goals, it’s time to lean in. With a few tweaks, a little planning and some disciplined effort, 2023 can be the year you start to make your money goals come to life.