Personal finance: the best resolutions for 2024

Now that the celebrations are over, it's time to make those traditional New Year's resolutions. Each new cycle is, after all, a great opportunity to take stock of our own achievements, revisiting successes and victories - however big or small, difficulties or failures. And it's also a time to open up to new perspectives. So, how about making some personal finance resolutions?

The aim of this time of introspection is to identify, among our thought patterns and beliefs, our emotions and feelings on the one hand, and our attitudes and behaviours on the other, those which are helpful and effective, and which we have every interest in maintaining and reinforcing, from those which are unsatisfactory and dysfunctional, and which we will be keen to change.

In the manner of the Stoic sages, we could ask ourselves what new routines to put in place, habits to adopt and state of mind to nurture when it comes to money, in order to (re)find and maintain lasting financial well-being. While realistic, simple and accessible, these resolutions should be translated into concrete actions, in order to gain in effectiveness.

Here are just a few examples:

• 1 / Familiarize yourself with your personal finances, by getting into the habit of drawing up a budget from time to time, and then regularly, to get a clear picture of your resources, expenses, living expenses and ability to save. You can also use the free Pilote Budget application.

• 2 / Check your bank account at least once a month by logging on to your banking application and comparing your theoretical budget with the last three monthly statements.

• 3 / Take stock of the bank's insurance contracts and services, questioning their usefulness and suitability for your own immediate needs and projects, then for the short, medium and long term. For inspiration, visit https://www.abe-infoservice.fr/ and lesclesdelabanque.com.

• 4 / Decide to better control your spending by setting clear, prioritized goals that are consistent with your objectives and values. Let's not forget that knowing how to indulge yourself is just as wise and important as deciding to cut or postpone expenses deemed secondary or unnecessary.

• 5 / Deal sensibly with money issues and identify what we can do about them - for example, how to improve our resources and manage our debts. Find useful information and resources at mesquestionsdargent.fr and mesdroitssociaux.gouv.fr.

• 6 / Accept help and advice in case of doubt or financial difficulty by consulting a local Point Conseil Budget and the banque-france.fr website, Individuals section.
  
  
•  7 / Remain curious and improve your financial culture by signing up for a Parcours Budget "Ma banque au quotidien" workshop, and by consulting the Autorité des Marchés Financiers' "Mon épargne clé en main" fact sheets(amf-france.org) to learn how to invest at your own pace and in line with your savings profile...

So that the 365 new days to come can help you live your relationship with money fully, serenely and consciously, and to help you continue to make informed choices, we'll be bringing you new advice every month.

Finally, the entire Inclusion and Financial Culture team wishes you a year of abundance. Abundance in health and vitality, in creativity and projects, in rich and inspiring relationships and - it goes without saying - in personal finances.