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With the New Year comes a new you and a new year’s resolution! Here are a few ideas to get you closer to finding the perfect goal for you.
Many people are talking about money habits and ways to manage finances. If you are someone who has thought about it but hasn’t necessarily started taking on a strategy to better money management, a good first step is to create a budget and figure out where your money goes. Just look back at your recent expenses and current income and use that as a guide to build your budget.
Another tip to get started on before the new year is to consider tax credit options in which you can donate money to a qualified Arizona Charitable Tax Credit option, like the Helping the Working Poor Fund, and you could qualify to receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on your state taxes.
Taking the time to learn something new can keep up your cognitive health. One great thing you could focus on growing your knowledge in is community programs in Maricopa County. The VSUW Community Solutions YouTube playlist has a range of videos, each 2 ½ minutes or less, explaining different programs available for individuals living in poverty in our community. They outline the need, how the programs work, and how you can get involved in the solution!
Whether this interests you or you want to take on learning a new language, how to play an instrument, or take cooking classes to make new meals, there’s always more to learn.
Putting some room in your day to read can be beneficial for a great number of reasons. Reading a fiction book can be an escape from the daily noise and a chance to relieve some stress by entering a new world. A non-fiction book can expand your knowledge on a topic and, if you choose one related to your job, could improve your career performance. Taking the time as a family to read together can increase your child’s interest in reading. Research has shown that one-on-one guided reading can improve a child’s reading outcomes.
You can help families in our community who may not have easy access to books build up a personal home library when you participate in Book-in-a-Bag! Simply put some children’s books into a paper bag, decorate the bag with story characters, and connect to United Way to get these books to families.
Or, to connect to a child personally, see if your company participates in the online tutoring program, Vello, where you can use a virtual system to connect with students over a lunch break from your very own desk once a week! Share the information with your employer to get started.
Making an impact on your city is a great feeling and helps build a stronger community. Invite your kids to volunteer with you and show they can make big difference for local families. Many organizations are always looking for volunteers to help them achieve their community goals.
At Valley of the Sun United Way, we are fighting to break the cycle of poverty for every child, individual and family in Maricopa County. Join the fight. Visit our volunteer page to learn more.
While there are many ways to get involved in what is happening in your community, the United Way affinity groups are a fun way to network while breaking the cycle of poverty in Maricopa County. Whether you are a woman looking to connect to the successful members of Women United, a student with a drive to make a difference while in school with Student United Way, new to the workforce and looking to network while joining the fight to end poverty with Generation United, or are near or in retirement age, looking forward to a new and exciting chapter of your life where you can connect with others to strengthen our community with Retire United, there’s a group for you.
