Financial Predictions for the New Year

by Gary Foreman

You can be pretty sure that these predictions will happen. Wouldn’t it be wise to be prepared for them?

Each year experts share their predictions for future events. So in an effort to help you do well financially, I’d like to announce the following Dollar Stretcher predictions.

I predict that sometime over the next twelve months, you will be tempted to buy something big that you cannot afford.

It could be a house, car, big screen TV or anything large and expensive.

Originally, you’ll be tempted by a television ad, a purchase your co-worker or neighbor makes, a picture a friend posts on Facebook or the desire to feel good about yourself.

Related: How Much Is Envy Costing You?

I predict that you’ll find a variety of reasons that you should make the big purchase. You’ll think of different ways that you could handle the payments. You’ll begin to picture yourself owning the coveted thing and tell yourself that you “deserve” the item.

I can’t tell whether you’ll give in or not. If you do, you could be facing years of payments. It probably won’t make you feel any better, but you will get to post pictures on Facebook to impress your ‘friends.’ Woo hoo!

I predict that during the next year, you’ll be offered unnecessary credit. It could come in a variety of forms. It could be a store credit card that offers 10% off of your first purchase using the card, an increase in the limit on your existing credit card, or a bank offering you a new credit card.

They’ll tell you that the offer is made because you’re special, a preferred customer or someone who manages their money well. Don’t believe them. The reason that they’ll offer you more credit is because they want you to use it. It’s easier to spend money you don’t have when there’s credit available. And that’s when the real fun starts.

Related: The Subtle Psychology of Credit Cards and Overspending

I predict that sometime during the next year, you’ll face an “unexpected bill.” The most likely sources for the bill are a home repair, car repair or a medical bill.

Most people don’t have any money saved for this type of financial emergency. After all, who can tell when an unexpected bill will come in?

Since you don’t have money saved, you’ll use your credit card and begin making monthly payments on it. You’ll find the payments frustrating since you really don’t have anything new to show for them.

Related: 8 Reasons You Don’t Have an Emergency Fund

I predict that something you couldn’t live without a few years ago will become a burden this year.

There are a number of reasons this will happen.

It could be that the item didn’t deliver as promised. Maybe it’s just gotten old. In fact, maybe it doesn’t work at all any more. Even though the fun is gone, you might still be making payments on it. Regardless of the cause, if you look around your house or garage, you’ll find something that was irresistible before you bought it that you wish you could sell now.

I predict that you won’t save enough. Yes, you’ll save more than you did a year or two ago, but it will still only be a percent or two of your take home earnings.

You’ll avoid thinking about things that could make you feel bad about not saving, such as college for your kids, financial emergencies and your own retirement.

Related: Use a Luxury Tax to Trick Yourself into Saving

I predict that you’ll accumulate more “stuff.”

Since the early 1970s, the average home size has gone up by 62%, and self-storage places are cropping up all over. So you’ll have more stuff twelve months from now. It could be something you’re collecting, or just routine shopping.

I further predict that all this stuff will cause you to wonder whether your present house or apartment is too small. You’ll be tempted to move to a bigger, more expensive home.

Related: How Much Is Clutter Costing You?

I predict that one of your neighbors will fall into serious financial trouble. Their past spending and use of credit will cave in on them.

You might even see their home vacant and offered for sale by the bank in a foreclosure sale.

You’ve probably noticed a trend among these predictions. I’m not much of a fortuneteller and the predictions are not very bold. In fact, most of them are so common that anyone could predict them.

In fact, that’s the point. You can be pretty sure that these things will happen. Wouldn’t it be wise to be prepared for them?

Related:

• Be Debt-Free This Year
• 5 Financial Resolutions Everyone Should Make
• 5 Simple Habits That Make a Financial Difference
• Want to Improve Your Finances? Just Say ‘No’

Reviewed December 2022

About the Author

Gary Foreman is the former owner and editor of The Dollar Stretcher. He's the author of How to Conquer Debt No Matter How Much You Have and has been featured in MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, The Nightly Business Report, US News Money, Credit.com and CreditCards.com.