Raise money with your New Year’s Resolutions

Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions this year?

People make all sorts of New Year’s Resolutions but some are more popular than others. You might have promised yourself to find a new job, lose weight, give up alcohol, get fitter, or any number of things.

Alongside these popular resolutions, many of us promise to do something charitable and “make a difference”. So how can you achieve these goals all at once?

Getting fit

After multiple Christmas dinners, indulging on chocolate, snacking on mince pies, and consuming lots of alcohol we tend to feel somewhat worse for wear which is why getting fit is one of the most popular Resolutions made. Charity runs are a great way to raise money while achieving your NYR: whether it is a national event or a track that you set yourself, ask friends, colleagues, and family to sponsor you for completing a challenging run.

Quitting smoking

According to the NHS, “around 7 million of us will make a New Year’s resolution to improve an aspect of our health”[i], and a classic example of this is to quit smoking. While there is lots of help available to you, ultimately it is up to you to motivate yourself. Ask people to sponsor you to quit smoking or simply give the weekly money that you would usually spend on cigarettes to charity.

Swearing fund

A simple but fun way to raise funds is to provide a swear jar that people add 50p-£1 to each time they curse; this is good for large households or for pubs / restaurants that want to raise a little extra money. While it is a release, swearing often leaves us with a little guilt so quitting swearing can feel good while raising money.

Lose weight for charity

The number one resolution made each year, losing weight, can easily be combined with raising money. If you ask people to sponsor you for every pound you lose, or to sponsor you if you meet a target weight you could make a lot of money and feel good in the process!

Improve cooking skills

Another popular Resolution is to learn how to cook. A bake sale is a great way to raise money for charity, and particularly if you work in a school or a busy environment then you can have sales throughout the year to raise funds.

Charity work

Finally, charity work is something that many of us make a commitment to at the start of the New Year. One of those things that we always mean to do but many of us never get round to doing; volunteering is a great way to give back to the community and feel that you are truly making a difference.

If you are hoping to raise money for a great charity this year, have a look at the Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind who help people with blindness to live life to the full and achieve any ambition that they have. We appreciate every penny raised for our course.