Want to be better with your finances? You don’t have to wait for the new year to start new habits. The earlier you start working towards being more money-smart, the sooner you can achieve your financial goals. 

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Review previous expenses. As painstaking as this could be, this can help you see where the bulk of your spending goes and if it really deserves a bigger slice of your total budget or not. This can also help you avoid making the same mistakes again.
2. Prioritize expenses. After identifying and listing down your expenses, rank them according to importance. This will also help you create the habit of mentally assessing your priorities whenever you feel the urge to spend on a non-essential whim.
3. Set your budget goals. Whether it be making a major investment or targeting to reach a certain amount of savings ,  this will help you shape your financial activity around that goal.
4. Use an app or any budget tracking tool. Seeing your spending as visualized by a money-tracking app can help you make better spending decisions on the go.
5. Map out your major purchases for the year. Do you foresee a big-ticket purchase? Appliances you may need to buy? Map it out so you can prepare ahead instead of falling short when the time comes.
6. See how you can grow your money. Whether it’s putting money in an investment plan , investing in a business, or having extra means of income, explore options that fit your financial goals and habits.
7. Set aside funds for a good cause. If you can afford it, try and save a small amount of money for charitable causes and donation drives. This will also help you have money set aside when you stumble upon a cause that you want to help out.
8. Practice being content with less. Probably one of the simplest, but not always the easiest things to do is to make it a habit to be happier without having to spend all the time. Practicing gratitude and contentment will make you spend less and just live in the moment with whatever you have a little bit more.

Here's to making more responsible choices and better financial habits! Get started by talking to a Manulife Advisor today.