It’s fashionable to mock New Year resolutions because they often end up as 7-day wonders or even less. We’re so used to multi-tasking at the risk of focusing on nothing that I do get why focusing on two or three things that matter most can be met with such pessimism.

But I rather like making a list of goals and checking it twice (a day). In the first page of my 3-year journal (yes, I still keep one and it’s not digital!), it says “the palest ink is better than the brightest memory.” That’s an ancient Chinese proverb that I hope I won’t forget in the next 10 years. We all need every chance we can get to think more deeply about what we want, what we should focus our energies on, and a chance to start all over again. New beginnings…

So here are some ideas for New Year resolutions for money-smart geeks. Do jump in if you have other suggestions, because deepening the discussion can only do us more good!

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They tell me it’s hard to be grateful when you’re dead broke. As in zero moolah in your bank account and loads of debt. A good friend told me of a time he was sunk to the tune of millions and it was all he could do to face himself in the mirror in the morning.

I wouldn’t presume to know better what people should feel in those times. But perhaps it would be a good idea to be grateful while I can. After all, it’s Thanksgiving in the US, one of the holidays there that I like and want to import here in the Philippines even if there’s a lot of skepticism about it. Get Rich Slowly has a neat video and post on why Thanksgiving can be good even without turkey circa 1951!

Another reason is that I write about money every day and while I know I should be thankful for what those little coins and bills bring, it’s important to focus on the real reason why we want to fix our finances. Not for money’s sake or the things that go ka-ching, but for things like security, family, health, service to God and community, helping others and so on.

Digerati said it well:

… money is a replaceable asset, a distant second to many other things that we all wish we could permanently have and forever keep, but which we only end up receiving in what seemingly feels like short, sporadic periods throughout our lives.

So, I’m grateful for:

(Photo from AFP)

- time. Time to heal, to make amends, to start over, to think of things celestial, to ponder on light and truth, to laugh aloud
- little grubby fingers that grab you and children who hug you and make you feel you’re 10 feet tall at the end of a crazy busy day
- last week’s momentary misunderstandings, because that means hubby and I are still together after 15 years
- mom’s health and sense of humor
- two home angels who have served my family for years and keep my kalamansi juice fresh
- more than 20 articles waiting to be written, because that means I am doing what I love to do
- friends who text “ei, musta? Wala lang.”
- the feel of fresh sheets
- blogging, which makes me jump up from bed every morning. (I kid you not)
- email and the Internet, for making it possible to work at home

**turns to you, and gives you my full attention**

It’s your turn.

(Putting personal finances in the public eye does not scare Filipinos anymore. Photo from  AFP)

Used to be that Filipinos would rather reveal their most embarrassing bloopers to friends rather than talk about how much they are making or how much debt they have.

Not anymore.

Pinoys are talking about their deep, dark money secrets in blogs, their investment portfolio and strategies, revealing their net worth and their biggest financial dreams, the lessons they learn along the way as they journey on to financial independence – and sometimes even their mistakes (laudable, really. After all, who doesn’t make mistakes?)

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