5 things to do in the new year
Now is the time to sort through your to-do list and prioritize getting your health and finances in order for 2011.
Save your raise
Salary boosts are bigger! Human resources consulting firm Buck Consultants projects that most companies will increase employees' pay by an average of 3% in 2011, up from 2% in 2009.
If you're making $100,000, that's about $2,000 a year after taxes. Doesn't sound like much of a haul? Funnel it straight into a tax-advantaged account like a Roth IRA every year and your money will grow tax-deferred, giving you an additional $139,522 in 30 years (assuming a conservative 5% annual return).
"The money might seem insubstantial at the time, but it's going to work hard in the long run," says Reston, Va., financial planner Frank Boucher.
NEXT: Go for a checkup
Last updated January 04 2011: 4:45 PM ET
