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SET A PERSONAL GOAL THIS YEAR

It’s that time of year when the world bombards you to make new resolutions and habits. It gets to feel like work. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can make a new goal that’s fun. We now offer a free planning worksheet that makes it easy for you to accomplish the goal, whether it’s to improve yourself or try new activities.

Here are some ideas if you’re looking for a new goal:

Try a new restaurant once a month
Go hiking
Declutter
See five plays or concerts this year
Take dance lessons
Volunteer
Travel to a new place (Use our travel kit.)
Cook a new recipe once a month
Throw a party (Use our celebrations kit.)
Learn a new craft

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YOUR GUIDE FOR JANUARY 2026

It’s a new month and a new year. It gives us a chance to start fresh and make new goals. We can help you out with that. Try our new personal goal checklist – it’s free. But a new year can always feel intimidating and if you don’t want to make a resolution, that’s OK, too. January is a long month. Be good to yourself, however that looks for you.

Here’s our guide for this month:

Dates to Remember:

Thursday, Jan. 1 - New Year’s Day
Thursday, Jan. 15 – Quarterly tax deadline for self-employed
Monday, Jan. 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

To Do:

Pay bills
Save money for upcoming events, parties
Clean house
Prepare for meetings, volunteer work and medical appointments
Prepare for other errands
Prepare for concerts, parties, sports, theater

Start thinking about …

Friday, Feb. 13 – Galentine’s Day
Saturday, Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day
Sunday, Feb. 15 – Singles Awareness Day
Monday, Feb. 16 – Presidents Day
Tuesday, Feb. 17 – Lunar New Year
Tuesday, Feb. 17 – Mardi Gras
Tuesday, Feb. 17 - Ramadan begins
Wednesday, Feb. 18 – Ash Wednesday; Lent begins
Tuesday, March 3 - Holi
Friday, March 20 - Eid al-Fitr
Wednesday, April 1-Thursday, April 9 - Passover
Sunday, April 5 – Easter
Sunday, May 10 - Mother’s Day
Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day

Use our checklists to help you plan:

Monthly Checklist – This helps you map out the month ahead by saving money for upcoming events and scheduling time for errands. And it’s free.
Yearly Adulting Checklist – Our free one-page guide makes sure you’ve completed your financial and health tasks.
New Life Starter Kit – Great for college graduates, this kit helps your job and apartment search. $25
Travel Kit – Plan your next trip. $25
Celebrations Kit – Host a party and get ready for the holidays. $25
Health Kit - Keep track of your medical history and appointments. $15
Safety Kit – Prepare a go-to bag and other tasks in case of emergencies. Free.

Jessica DeLeon 12/17/25 Jessica DeLeon 12/17/25

How To Know When to Buy Something

You buy a new skirt and you realize you need to buy a new top. Or you get a record player and now you need a table and you don’t know where to put it. When you are about to make a purchase, especially this time of year when there are so many sales, ask a few questions before you hit that “add to cart” button.

DO I NEED THIS?

If you have holes in your socks or your computer is dying, then of course you should buy it. Some purchases make sense. But do you need another dress or journal?

HOW WILL I USE THIS? WILL IT COLLECT DUST?

A new kitchen appliance will get used, but other purchases end up sitting there due to lack of time or other use.

DO YOU HAVE SPACE FOR IT?

Think it over if you need to make room for more books or furniture.

DO I NEED TO BUY SOMETHING ELSE TO SUPPORT IT?

Check to see if you have a top that matches the skirt or you need tools for a crafting project.

WILL IT REQUIRE ASSEMBLY?

Set up time to put it together and look for help if needed.

IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE?

Check your library for books and movies and ask your neighbors to borrow tools.

IS THERE A PROMO CODE?

If you’re sure of the purchase, always check that you can get it on sale.

Jessica DeLeon 12/10/25 Jessica DeLeon 12/10/25

#SOLOSTORIES: “LAST HOLIDAY”

#SoloStories is our feature in which we explore books, films and TV shows that show single women navigating their lives – but romance is not the main component (although this is a slight exception).

In the world of winter holiday movies, the story usually revolves around a cute couple or a frantic family. In the 2006 comedy “Last Holiday,” the focus is on a single woman who needs to find her spirit.

The movie has a predictable premise. Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) is a lonely retail worker at a New Orleans department store. She keeps a book called “Possibilities” with recipes she’s made and places she’d like to visit. One day, a medical exam shows she has a condition that gives her only three weeks to live.

So she cashes in all her savings and, for the week between Christmas and New Year’s, she travels to a Prague hotel that one of her favorite chefs works at. And here, she begins to do things she wouldn’t usually do. And she does it all by herself. She’s living the solo life to the fullest. She reserves a table for one and tries all the chef’s dishes. She gets a massage. She curls up in all the pillows of the bed. She goes snowboarding and BASE jumping.

“I’ve been waiting my whole life for something like this,” she says before she takes the plunge.

Other hotel guests and workers notice her vivaciousness. “She’s the most amazing person who’s ever came to this hotel,” one staffer says. “She lives on the edge. She says what she wants. She does what she wants.”

At a night at the casino, the guests turn to her to liven things up. But she knows her time is coming up. She tells herself how she would change things. “We’ll laugh more. We’ll love more. We’ll see the world. We just won’t be so afraid.”

This being a Hollywood movie, Georgia Byrd gets her second chance. She also gets her romance. (Well, it is LL Cool J.) But the movie is not about the relationship, which takes up maybe 10 minutes of the movie’s runtime. “Last Holiday” is about a woman who learns to live and love herself.

Jessica DeLeon 12/3/25 Jessica DeLeon 12/3/25

HOW TO HELP YOURSELF AND A FRIEND WHEN YOU’RE TRAVELING

If you’re planning a trip during the winter break or starting to plan an adventure next year, here’s a few tips to keep in mind for yourself and to help your friends. Grab out Travel Kit with loads of checklists to plan your next trip.

How to help yourself when you’re traveling:

Ask friends for the best lodging, restaurants and places to see. Post your requests for suggestions on Facebook or other sites. You may get better recommendations than from travel guides.
Make a list of sites you want to visit at that destination, then arrange your itinerary by their geographic location so you’re traveling to places near each other.
Give yourself plenty of time to plan. It can take a lot of thought and work to figure out the right itinerary, especially if it’s a multi-day trip overseas.

How to help a friend who’s traveling:

Offer them a place to stay – or take them out to eat - if they’re in your city.
If you’re able, drive them around. Travelers are tired and won’t know the best routes.
Give them your favorite recommendations for best lodging, restaurants and places.

Jessica DeLeon 12/1/25 Jessica DeLeon 12/1/25

YOUR ROADMAP FOR DECEMBER

It’s December. Did you book your flight yet? Have you gotten all your presents – including for the Secret Santa at work? Did you RSVP for that party? There’s so much to do this month. But here’s the great thing about being single this time of year. You’re an auntie with no kids relaxing during the holidays (see above video). You can move at your own pace and make your own choices.

And we got you. Our Celebrations Kit is a big help with checklists for Christmas and other holidays. And our roadmap is here to help you with those little things you may miss.