Let’s Get Fiscal

big bucks. There are plenty of websites online to help you find the best deal and biggest discounts.

Track your spending.

The same report by Citizens Advice, a network made up of independent charities out of the United Kingdom, found nearly three in four people said debt worries were having an impact on their mental health—and more than half admitted their physical health was affected.

Even though a direct connection between our overall health and our checkbooks may or may not be visibly apparent, physical, mental and financial health are most definitely connected. When your finances are stable, you’re less likely to worry, and reducing stress and anxiety can have a direct impact on reducing illness and disease. And thankfully, the beginning of a new year is the perfect time to get both your fiscal and physical health in order. Follow these simple tips for a happier mind and bank account in 2017.

Eat out less often.

This goes for dinner and lunch. Avoid fast-food visits during the work day.

Pack a lunch from home instead. Eating at home won’t only help you save more hard-earned money, it will also help you lose weight, too.

So many Americans live paycheck to paycheck, just one major incident from serious financial trouble. This year, vow to get a better handle on how you’re spending your money. Writing down all your spending for one month and then analyzing how you could have spent your money wiser might be a real wakeup call.

Start an emergency fund. Even if your financial situation doesn’t allow you to save big sums of money, every little bit will help during a major unexpected event, such as car repairs or the loss of a job. Make it a priority to “pay yourself first” each payday, and put this money in an account that isn’t easily accessible. If that money can be deposited automatically to the account through your payroll company, that’s even better.

Reduce your car insurance. Shopping around for new car insurance every few years could save you some

Lower or eliminate a monthly bill. Have a magazine membership you never use? Can you live with a little less data on your cell phone plan? Lowering or eliminating bills will free up some extra money in your budget. So call your credit card company and see if you can get your interest rate lowered, or finally cut the cord and cancel your TV service and opt for a cheap Netflix or Hulu membership instead.

Sources: citizensadvice.org.uk, money.usnews.com, setforlife.com, cashmoneyforlife.com, clark.com