SoFi Blog

The holidays are over. You’re back at work, the pecan pie leftovers are long gone, and all the festive lights have been packed up and put away.

Now what?

The parties, travel, and extra vacation days are 12 long months away, so it’s understandable that you may feel a little drab after the holidays. All that merriness is so fun, but the next thing you know, you’re back into your normal routine.

We promise, we’re not here to make you feel down, we have a point! And that point is, we know a way to brighten up the post-holiday slump. How? Why with all those handy gift cards you were given during the holidays, of course.

Between personality differences, competition for promotions, and day-to-day stressors, navigating relationships at work is hard enough. Add political discussions into the picture—especially in today’s highly charged climate—and it gets even trickier. Now take it one step further: What if it’s your boss who has different political views than you?

Clashing politically with your boss can seem uncomfortable, but it’s not as hard to navigate as you may think. You don’t have to completely avoid discussing politics at work, and you don’t have to let those views get in the way of a healthy, productive relationship.

The new year is the perfect time to plan and think about all of the possibilities for the upcoming year. It is a time to celebrate, as well as to set new goals for health, personal improvement…and wealth.

“Doing better with money” almost always tops the New Year’s resolutions charts , along with eating healthy and getting more exercise. It’s a great goal, in theory, but there’s a problem—it isn’t specific and action-oriented.

Someone who wants to be better about managing their money can start with small, actionable goals that they can work toward in increments. One great way to start is to get your debt organized.

Holiday Cheer with a Dash of Stock Market Fear

“O Turkey Lurkey, the sky is falling!”
—The Remarkable Story of Chicken Little

Quoting a well-worn children’s tale may seem a bit crass in the wake of an uncertain market. But, this classic yarn remains prophetic because of the timeless lessons it espouses for tumultuous times like these.

For the uninitiated, Chicken Little gets unnecessarily spooked, yells about the end of the world, and convinces all of her flavorful foul friends to prepare for the worst. The wily fox senses opportunity and invites his feathered friends into his den to take shelter from the impending storm—where he then proceeds to consume each worrywart one by one.

Given the market turmoil and disheartening news headlines, many investors may wonder if Chicken Little was on to something, despite knowing her eventual fate. As stock valuations become more reasonable, it may make more sense for investors to act like the opportunistic fox.

While you may or may not be the type to enjoy New Year’s resolutions, setting financial goals for the new year is a very different kind of ambition than losing weight or making your bed every day.

Yes, it may be important to cut down on carbohydrates or increase the number of trips you make to the gym each week (of course, you can still do those things), but harnessing the power of focused financial discipline can provide you with practical habits that can serve you for a lifetime. Here are eight straightforward and achievable practices for helping to improve your financial future.