New Years Resolutions - Resolutions to Avoid

Here's our list of resolutions to avoid—and what to commit to instead.

By Leigh Newman
Original Content | December 22, 2011

Photo: Thinkstock

Never Resolve to Cut Up Your Credit Cards into Teeny-Tiny, Unusable Bits

Vowing to never charge again lasts...until the first time you need to rent a car, book a hotel, pay for something from an online store that doesn't take PayPal or fork out a $6 ATM fee to get cash.

Instead:
Vow to get financially savvy. If you're overspending via plastic, you're overspending in general. First, get a sense of what you have and what you owe. Then, with the effects of the recent economic meltdown in mind, figure out if you need to start paying off your debt or beefing up your emergency savings.