Kimmie Greene

If you’re just starting out in the business world or thinking about making a big career shift, it’s important to find the right advice to help you succeed. Unlike well-meaning friends, a good mentor can provide honest, critical advice and guidance instead of just telling you what you want to hear. Having a mentor carries a certain cachè – it’s a sign you take your career, small business, or side hustle seriously enough to seek outside advice and guidance. But what does having a mentor really mean?

If you’re looking for the perfect excuse to get focused on your finances but think it’s too late for New Year’s resolutions, think again. The start of 2018 is a great time to hit the “reset” button on your budget. And just like anything, taking the first step is the biggest one, so we’ve rounded-up six helpful tips below to help you start off the year with a money-positive attitude and smart spending and saving habits. Scroll down to see them all. 1. Reset your goals.

Sit down with your credit card bill. "Draw a line through every purchase or event that, in hindsight, was associated with being HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, tired)," writes Ellen R. Siegel, a certified financial planner in Miami. Use this exercise to learn from your past emotional spending mistakes – and avoid them in the future. Look at your tax refund. Do you receive a hefty check from Uncle Sam each year?