The New Year is a time of new beginnings.  A fresh start and a renewed outlook.  Most Americans participate in the age-old tradition of making New Year’s Resolutions and not too surprisingly, we all share similar goals when it comes to improving ourselves and our lives.

Below are ten of the most common resolutions. See how many are on your list too.

1.  Lose weight and/or eat healthier
2. Quit smoking
3. Exercise more/join a gym
4. Spend more time with friends and family
5. Get out of debt
6. Enjoy life more
7. Quit drinking
8. Get organized
9. Learn something new
10. Help others/donate/volunteer

While all of these resolutions are admirable, it’s not likely that the average person could accomplish all of them in one year if it that was their goal.  It’s actually best to choose one resolution—the one most important to you and make that your top priority.  Or maybe choose your top three but work on only one at a time in order to be successful.  The key to achieving your goal is to make it realistic.  Saying something like I’m going to lose 50 lbs by Valentine’s Day is only setting yourself up for failure (and frustration).

Statistically most Americans have given up on their resolutions by early spring and don’t revisit them again until the next year but by breaking it down to just fixing one thing in your life; you have a much better chance of being successful.

If getting out of debt is high on your list, First Rate Debt Solutions is here to help.  With millions of dollars in debt settled in 2009 and a wide range of programs we can tailor to fit your needs, 2010 can finally be your year to become DEBT FREE!

Happy New Year!

On behalf of all of us at First Rate, I would like to take a moment to wish everyone a happy holiday season.  This past year has been challenging for many Americans including many of the staff at First Rate as we navigate our way through these challenging economic times.  But we remain committed to providing real solutions for those with severe financial difficulties and top notch customer service to all those who have enrolled in our programs.

Many are predicting that 2010 will be a better year economically.  This is not to say that we should expect a huge improvement but that hopefully the worst is over and the economy can start to rebound.  No one is expecting huge increases in housing prices or for the credit crunch to go away but in some ways that's okay.  Interest rates should remain low and that will help some people who do have large amounts of debt.

For all those Americans that are still struggling financially, our wish for you is that 2010 brings relief to those problems.  As always, we are available for a free personalized consultation to evaluate your situation and see if one of our debt relief programs would be of value to you.

Above all, have a safe and happy holiday and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2010!