New Years hangover

It's a new year. Many of us are rushing back to the gym, trying to fulfill various resolutions, lamenting past follies, and striving to make all kinds of life changes. Almost everyone is experiencing the financial hangover that follows the holiday season. I usually try to avoid setting goals that are unrealistic. I tend to deal more in the concrete as opposed to the abstract. This year I was left with one clear cut objective: To not spend another year on the verge of poverty. The fact is that I work too hard to be in such dire straights. I've sacrificed so much to be where I'm at currently, more than most people will in their lifetime. Despite this, I have gained relatively little in terms of monetary gains. Now I don't equate money to success and have no real desire to be filthy rich or famous. I want the one thing that everyone works for: peace of mind. Unless you get some sort of deeper level of fulfillment from your career, it's tough to have peace of mind living from paycheck to paycheck. Every bill and debt becomes a anvil hanging over your head, ready to drop with little or no notice. I give every job 100%; I simply don't know how to do any less. If I'm slacking, there's a legitimate health issue going on with me. So I guess my resolution should be to consistently work smarter. I know a change is imminent. How do you remain patient when your expenses won't? Questions like these flood my head and fill me with stress. But hey it's a brand new year. The world didn't end in 2012 so in some ways this year is a fresh start. I'm determined to make the best of it