January 19, 2017

A New Year – My Goals for 2017

Leggings c/o // Sweatshirt c/o // Shoes (white version) // Backpack c/o // Watch c/o

With the hustle and bustle from the holiday season behind us now, I’ve really been reflecting on the new year and my plans for it. The new year always brings about the feeling of a new, fresh start. It is a time to re-energize and focus on yourself and what matters to you the most. New year, a new you. I know it is so clichéd to talk about New Year’s resolutions, but it really is a great time to refoccus on what you want in life. This year my biggest goals are to:

1.) Simplify everything.

2.) Focus on my overall health and wellness.

3.) Spend more time with family and friends.

4.) Travel more (for fun, not work!)

5.) Do thoughtful things for the people who matter most in my life.

6.) Work on saving more and building up our retirement account.

My list seems so simple, and that’s exactly what I want it to be – simple. We get so caught up in doing this and that and spending money here and there that we sometimes just overdo it a little. This year, I want to simply make life better and easier. I want to simplify everything I do, be healthier, spend more time with friends and family, travel more, do nice things for others and save more money. I recently signed up for the Plenti rewards program, and I’m excited that the program will actually help me to cross off quite a few things on my list this year.

Not sure what Plenti is? Plenti allows shoppers to earn and redeem reward points across some major brands. Shoppers can earn rewards for everyday purchases they are already making. With Plenti, you can shop at any one of their partners to earn points. And when you’re ready to redeem your points, you can do so at any participating AT&T, Exxon, Macy’s, Mobil, Rite Aid, or Chili’s, not just the store where you earned them. With access to over 800 retailers via the Plenti Online Marketplace, there are plenty of ways to earn points too. Some of my favorite Plenti partners that I use a lot are AT&T, Macy’s, ExxonMobil, Rite Aid, Expedia, National Car Rental and Chili’s, but you can find a full list of partners here.

Plenti is all about simplifying too. American Express launched Plenti, the multi-brand rewards program in 2015, and it aims to eliminate the keychain full of loyalty programs by creating one program that encompasses multiple wel- known brands. Who wants to carry around a weighed down keychain when they can just carry one small key fob with their Plenti loyalty card to earn and redeem points?!

Focusing on my overall health. Whether going to Macy’s to purchase a new workout outfit or to Rite Aid to buy vitamins, Plenti will help me cross my health and fitness goals off my list while rewarding me.

Spending more time with friends and family. Using Exxon or Mobil to fill up my gas tank will help me earn Plenti reward points, and it’ll also help push me to get away more often to spend time with those I love. Who doesn’t love saving on gas?! That’s just another bonus for doing something I will be doing anyway.

Traveling more. I always book my trips through Expedia, and whenever we fly, I always use Enterprise to rent a car. Now I earn rewards through Plenti while doing these things that I was going to do anyway. As if I needed another reason to travel, but being rewarded sure can’t hurt. It’s expensive enough with a toddler at home, so I love finding ways we can save more while still living life to the fullest and enjoying ourselves.

Doing thoughtful things. I can get rewarded for using the Plenti Online Marketplace to send flowers or gift basets for friends, family members or even coworkers. We’re only a couple weeks into the new year, and I’ve already used my Plenti rewards card quite a few times and started earning rewards.

Saving more. This year I’m focusing on saving more while buying everyday items for my family. This new year is the perfect time for you to become a savvy shopper and save money on the things you already buy. It’s free to join, and there is no limit to the amount of points you can earn. Have you enrolled in the Plenti rewards program? If so, how will you be using it to save this year? What are your goals for 2017?