Invest in Yourself - 8 Smart and Best Ways to Invest in Yourself this Year (2024)

Each January we make resolutions for the year ahead. Often our New Year’s resolutions are about giving something up — stop smoking, drink less, avoid negative people — but the New Year also gives us the impetus to make positive changes to our lives.

This year we want you to make it your New Year’s resolution to invest in yourself so that you can grow personally, professionally, and financially throughout the year.

Smart Ways to Invest in Yourself

There are hundreds of ways in which you can invest in yourself this coming year, and some of them cost little or nothing. Here are eight simple ways we believe you can invest in yourself for maximum impact.

1. Set a Savings Goal

What do you want this year?

Do you want a deposit for a house, a sabbatical to travel, or funding for a professional qualification? Identify your target and how much it costs, then put aside a set amount of money from your pay cheque each month to invest in achieving that goal.

You can start saving effortlessly with Plum. Plum uses smart tech to analyse your spending and puts away what you can afford, without you having to lift a finger. If you’re in your overdraft, Plum will know, and won’t take any money until you’re back in positive figures. Click here to sign up for Plum Here.

If you’re saving money for a goal and won’t need the cash for at least five years or so, the money should be invested. Simply put, Stock and Shares ISA is one of the easiest ways to start investing.

Fidelity is by far my favourite provider. These guys have been around a long time and won a number of awards such the Boring Money Best Buy ISA and Best Buy Beginner Investors award plus you can take money out whenever you want.

The good news is that, you can start a regular saving and investing plan today from as little as £50. Click here to learn more and start investing.

2. Take up Meditation or Yoga

When you are rushing around all day, you have no time to think, to relax, or to think ahead.

Taking a class in meditation or yoga — or even following instructions online — is an important investment in your health and wellbeing, and when your mind is calm you are much better able to face and overcome the numerous challenges that life throws at you throughout the year.

3. Sign up For a Course

Learning new things is a vital investment in yourself.

If you want to advance your career, you might sign up for a degree or evening class to gain additional qualifications. And even if you don’t need certificates, following a course teaches you discipline, new skills, and broadens your horizons.

It doesn’t have to be expensive, either: plenty of universities and colleges offer free higher education courses online, and they’ll open up all manner of opportunities.

With more than 20,000 free and paid-for online courses to choose from, you’re bound to find the right one for you with Udemy. Learn what you like, whenever you like, at your own pace, in the comfort of your own home. You can check it out here.

4. See a Financial Advisor

Another great way to invest in yourself is to invest in your financial future by consulting a financial advisor, either for a one-off session, or on an ongoing basis.

You do have to pay for expert advice, but it is a relatively small investment in yourself which can pay significant dividends, whether it is in getting a better mortgage rate, or in maximising your pension.

5. Allocate “Me Time”

Between work, housework, and family commitments, there’s often little time left over. But this year make a commitment to invest in yourself by finding regular “me time”, even if it is just for an hour a week.

You could use this time in multiple ways — including to pursue several of the other ways in suggested in this article — and it’s a self-reminder that you are an individual, whose interests are worth investing in.

6. Take up a Hobby

The New Year is a time to try something new.

Invest in yourself by trying a new hobby, be it learning a musical instrument, salsa dancing, star gazing, baking — the possibilities are endless! It’ll bring joy to your life, breadth to your interests, and you’ll make new friends as well.

Related: Hobbies for Women – How to Spend Time, not Money

7. Read and Learn More

All the knowledge in the world is held between the covers of books, and it’s an extraordinary, accessible resource.

Invest in yourself by reading: you can buy physical books or e-books, or soak up free information online. Read about something new which intrigues you.

If you’re too busy to read, Audible is one of the easiest ways to read audiobooks on the go. Well, with such an easy interface, and seamless integration with your commute, we definitely think so. And if you’re still not sure, Audible run a 30-day free trial with 2 FREE Audible books so you can make up your own mind without spending a penny.

Get better informed about current affairs or become financially literate. With the right financial education, you too can become financially independent this New Year.

Again, Udemy is a great place to find free and paid self-paced online courses from personal finance, personal development to business with over 20,000 courses you can choose from.

Learn and implement strategies to help you become happier, healthier, wealthier, and have better relationships. Read trashy novels as a guilty pleasure. Whatever catches your fancy, just read!

Related:The 10 Best Personal Finance Books Every Woman Needs to Read

8. Get a Good Haircut

Beauty is only skin deep, but how we feel about our appearance, and how other people judge us, has a great deal of impact on our confidence levels.

Invest in yourself physically by getting a good haircut. If you’re feeling edgy and want to try something fresh, get a new style or colour.

Be positive when you look at yourself in the mirror, and let your self-assurance shine to the people you meet.

Over to You

It’s time to make your own New Year’s resolution. Always remember, investing in yourself pays the best interest! What steps will you commit to invest in yourself this year? What positive changes do you hope to see by the end of the year?

It is time to take action.

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