Crush Your New Year’s Resolutions – and Make Some Money While You’re at It
Need some help keeping those New Year’s resolutions? Here are five of the most common New Year’s resolutions. We’ve paired each one with a strategy to monetize it to help you stay on track.
1. Get In Shape
Did you know you could get paid to exercise? It’s true. There are apps that will pay you to either lose weight or get active. (Read more on those here.) Plus, active side gigs abound. You could work as a farm hand, referee sports or even make food deliveries.
More From The Penny Hoarder: The 5 Top Apps for Saving Money in 2025
2. Find a Second Income Stream
If you’re in the market for a side gig, here’s our list of the best side hustles to help you make more money. But if your endgame is a little more than just extra cash, a second income stream could become a solid foundation for a whole new career. Maybe it’s time to turn your hobby into a business.
More From The Penny Hoarder: 50 Easy Ways You Could Make Extra Money This Month
3. Sleep More
Is 2025 going to be a year of self-care? Then getting enough sleep should be topping your list if it isn’t already. And yes, you can literally make money in your sleep. Sleep studies are another lucrative method to turn your Zs into Gs. In our sleep study guide, you’ll learn how to qualify for sleep studies, where to find them, the different kinds of studies and more. Disclaimer: Not all sleep studies are for the faint of heart. Some include rectal thermometers and isolation, meaning no access to your phone or computer.
5 Companies That Send People Money When They’re Asked Nicely
When you log into your bank account, how do your savings look? Probably not as good as you’d like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings. But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
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4. Earn a Higher Salary
This goal can materialize in one of two ways: You either land a job with higher pay, or you ask for a raise. Both options should result in (the sometimes dreaded) salary negotiations. Negotiations are a time for you to think about your financial needs and to use the tight labor market to your advantage to score a higher salary. But it’s a little harder than waltzing in the room and saying “Hey Boss, I want more money.” You have to do your homework. To help you prepare, we talked to expert career coaches and hiring managers in our seven-step guide to negotiating a higher salary.
More From The Penny Hoarder: These Companies Will Give You Food and Other Products For Free
5. Budget and Save Money
It’s probably time to wrangle your budget. Find a budget method that works for you, set your savings goals and stick to it. Here’s our guide on how to start saving money even if you don’t have room in your budget.
More From The Penny Hoarder: Make Your Money Work Harder for You With One of These High-Yield Savings Accounts
The 5 Dumbest Things We Keep Spending Too Much Money On
You’ve done what you can to cut back your spending.You brew coffee at home, you don’t walk into Target and you refuse to order avocado toast. (Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
But no matter how cognizant you are of your spending habits, you’re still stuck with those inescapable monthly bills.
You know which ones we’re talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
Ready to stop paying them? Follow these moves…
