It’s January. A new year. A chance to start anew. A blank slate to accomplish a fresh set of goals.

When it comes to your personal finances, January is also a good time to set up and automate your financial goals for the New Year. As such, listed below are 2 good goals / resolutions to shoot for in 2014.

1.      Set up a Zero-Based Budget

How does traditional budget work? Essentially, you lay out some financial needs for the month ahead, and if saving or investing money is included on the priority listing, you commit whatever amount you have leftover at the end of a pay period to your saving goal. The problem with this is that life gets in the way, and there never seems to be any money left over at the end of the month, correct?

In comes zero-based budgeting.

Similarly to regular budgeting, with zero-based budgets, you lay out your financial requirements/wants for the pay period. However, instead of waiting until the end of the period to see if you have money left over for your strategic goals, you transfer that money out at the beginning of the period in order to get your “balance to zero,” hence the name, zero-based budgeting.

This is a very effective strategy. Give it a try and see if you like it!

 2.      Stop Paying High Interest Rate Debt

When it comes to paying off high interest rate credit card debt, a little bit of knowledge will go a long way.

One strategy that can work for providing relief from high interest credit card debt is to find a new credit card that offers a 0% balance transfer that you can transfer your higher interest debt to. This strategy often works well for fairly small amounts of credit card debt that can be paid off in 6-12 monthly pay periods.

In addition, something a lot of people do not realize is that if you are a pretty good customer for a credit card, you can often get your interest rate decreased drastically simply by calling them and asking for a discount. If the first person you talk to at the credit card company says they cannot help you, it is often effective to ask for their supervisor.

Retail stores are so desperate to compete with one another that Black Friday now starts right after the last slice of pumpkin pie has been devoured on Thanksgiving. The trend towards increased sales has a lot to do with the rise in popularity of eCommerce, according to Forbes. There are retail stores in New York City willing to reinvent themselves every 4 weeks just to garner the kind of interest necessary to stay in business. This is why when setting up a new business in the retail sector, it is necessary to have the kind of setup which will allow you to succeed.

Starting with the basics is always essential, according to Inc.com. The costs are going to be high, but not nearly as much as when opening a restaurant. The majority of the money you are investing will go into the inventory you are selling. You will need to have an electronic point of sale system, a theme which garners interest and the willingness to try new technology. These things will help you to get started and may even set the groundwork to help you enjoy the kind of long-term success you have always dreamed of.

Purchase the Right POS System

Selling anything requires the use of an electronic point of sale system. You no longer have to buy dedicated POS systems, which can be used for nothing other than a POS system. Now, you can purchase an entire system that is centered around the use of an iPad. This includes using a printer, card reader and cash drawer all attached to the app which is downloaded into the iPad itself. At the end of the day, you can remove the iPad and use it any way you want to. This is perfect for anyone who is thinking about starting a retail store and also owns an iPad. If not, what a great reason to purchase one! The software from the POS app can help you organize and maintain your inventory. You will not have to sit in a dark back room crunching the numbers anymore. Just take your iPad home with you and work out the numbers in comfort.

Choose a Great Theme

The theme of your retail location needs to engage the kinds of people who are most likely to purchase from you to begin with. While you may not have the wherewithal to change your theme every 4 weeks like a retail location in New York City, you can still choose an awesome theme that people can get excited about. The theme should pertain to the kinds of merchandise you are selling and the kinds of people you are catering to. Also, make sure you are being creative with your theme. The more you can engage those people who buy from you, the more likely you are to bring in even more clientele.

Try New Technology

New technology is highly important to bringing in new clientele as well. Just like using the iPad as part of your electronic point of sale system, you can use iPads to engage clients while they are looking at products. Customers are always impressed by new technology and the use of new devices can help to put you on the map for tech savvy individuals. Just don’t spend money on technology just to have it. Make sure you invest in technology that is functional as well as cool looking. This way, you will get more than just some interested glances from the people who enter the store. Using these can help to set you apart from the other businesses without putting your business in jeopardy.

Credit cards are one of those areas that are often misunderstood. Like any form of borrowing, there are a few inherent risks but credit cards can prove very useful.

With this in mind, here is some useful information about how such a card may benefit you. If this sounds like something that could prove to be an advantage then you can apply for an online credit card quickly and easily.

It is important to remember that credit cards are optional, of course, but having one can certainly provide an important safety net.

How can it help?

Credit cards allow you instant access to credit. As a card, this essentially allows you to borrow credit when and where you need it. There’s no negotiating either, since you only borrow the exact amount of the expense needed.

It’s still credit and, as such, is expected to be paid off but its position as revolving credit means that whilst you pay off the balance regularly you’re still free to use the card should you need to. Where you need money urgently this can be a real lifeline and means you don’t have to constantly submit new credit applications each time you need additional cash.

Who is it for?

If you’re wise with your money and understand when you should and shouldn’t spend money then a credit card can prove advantageous. Likewise, there are some competitive options too. Some credit cards may be designed for full-time workers and there are others designed for those with poor credit ratings. You can also look at credit cards for students which, again, helps provide a form of borrowing for a specific financial situation and consumer.

Other benefits

The main benefit of a credit card is the instant borrowing. Credit cards are flexible options, allowing you to borrow both small and larger amounts if and when it’s needed.

A lot of cards can also offer you competitive rates. The aquacard classic offers a rate of 32.9% APR. The aqua advance, on the other hand starts at 34.9% APR but if you keep to your credit limit and repay on time you will receive an annual reduction of 5% for the first three years your APR drops to 19.9% by the end of that term.

Furthermore, most credit cards don’t add interest if you pay off the balance within the month. As such they can be used as an ideal form of cash advancement. If you only borrow what you know you can pay off then you’re not losing money in the process.

It doesn’t matter why you start: whether you’ve become part of the unemployed, need to supplement your income to pay for a child’s college education, or simply have a passion to “strike out on your own,” starting your business is a worthwhile goal.

More Americans are entering the world of entrepreneurship than ever before. In a July 2012 interview with Forbes magazine, Jack Sunderlage, Executive Vice President of National Sales for Grow America, reported that more than 11.5 million new U.S. businesses have emerged since March 2011.

What does it take to start your own business?

1. Decide what type of business you want to start.

You may not have a clever, new idea that the world will find fascinating and jump at the chance to buy from. However, there are many businesses of the “same old type” that you might be able to run better than those around you.

For instance, the salon you frequent is close to home, yet you have to sign in and wait for up to an hour for service and it lacks a certain “atmosphere.” You just want to get in and out as quickly as possible. But the salon on the far side of town has a more relaxing air about it, and they take appointments. If it were closer to home, you’d probably go there instead. There are many businesses you have an opinion about, yet can’t avoid because you need their services. If it were your business, you would know what changes you would make.

Think about what you would want out of a business as a consumer. Now is your opportunity.

2. Create a business plan.

Don’t worry about writing a lengthy business plan with 5- and 10-year projections. You can start out small and keep it to one or two pages. Include what your business will be, to whom you’ll be selling services or products to (your target customer), how much you’ll charge, and how you plan to do it. This includes what resources you’ll need, including location, staff, furniture, supplies, equipment, telephone, utilities, internet connection, POS (point of sale) system — and what your estimated start-up costs will be.  Research and comparison shopping can help to reduce your operation costs.  For example, investing into a MegaPath internet service can help reduce your total online costs.   Also note how you’ll pay back your start-up loan, if necessary, and how long it will take.

3. Determine how much to charge.

Besides researching what similar businesses charge, ask yourself what kind of income you need to earn. Don’t expect to get rich the first year; be realistic about the growth of your company. List your expenses, such as rent, payroll, taxes, insurance, utilities, consumables, and other monthly costs.

4. Establish how you’ll receive payment from customers.

Getting paid in cash is nice, but most people don’t pay in cash these days, nor write checks. You’ll want to establish a merchant account so you can receive payments by debit and credit card. This is otherwise known as “payment processing.” Payment processing services work with a bank to securely handle debit and credit card transactions. These services will also help to reconcile your accounting to ensure all payments were made to your account. There are many different plans and services offered, so be sure to research several to determine the most quality with the best rates that suits your needs. For help comparing rates from different payment processing companies click here.

5. Get help.

Seek some advice from a new business resource, such as the Small Business Administration and Entrepreneur Magazine. Both of these sites have excellent resources and tools to help steer you in the right direction.

Don’t let fear of the unknown get in the way of starting your own business. It’s an exciting, challenging, yet rewarding opportunity!