January makes it feel like you need to commit to a goal: to pick a direction, lock in a plan, and start moving before the window closes. But the first mistake isn’t picking the wrong goal, it’s rushing the decision without understanding what that goal is responding to. This post breaks down the difference between escape goals and support goals, how each shows up in your finances, and what to check before you build your year around one.

You don’t need another fresh start. If resetting your goals, tightening your budget, or promising “this time will be different” keeps landing you in the same pressure (just more tired), it’s not a motivation problem. This post breaks down why rebuilding without changing the demands underneath never works, how that strain shows up in your money, and what needs to be named before you plan what’s next.