January is usually met with a unanimous sigh of relief, as the “C” word ceases to pass our lips for another year. Because despite the joyous occasion that it can be, the all too-hard-to-swallow costs of Christmas can leave a lingering taste in our mouths.

But the New Year brings with it new ways that we can all be a bit wiser with our wages this year. Whether you’re saving for the gifts you would like to have liked to buy for that special someone, or a relaxing getaway from it all that you would like to take when the festive season comes around once more (sooner and sooner every year it seems!), the One4All Smart planner could hold the answer.

Easy as 1, 2, 3…

The One4All Smart Planner is a monthly saving scheme, in which you set aside a chosen amount of your salary each month. This is then redeemed at an agreed date later in the year, in the form of One4All Gift Vouchers or Gift Cards. As the contributions to your Smart Planner account are made via payroll, once your account is set up the rest is effortless.

The time is now

Starting your Smart Planner savings now, while New Year’s resolutions remain in full swing, and there may be some extra cash in your account that would usually be spent on shopping trips or nights out; means that you won’t feel the pinch of setting aside a small amount from your salary. As the months go by, you’ll find you won’t even notice that you are saving.

You can keep constant track of your savings online at the Smart Planner website, although you will be surprised at just how much you’ve saved by the end of the year; similar to finding a wad of cash in a handbag or wallet that you haven’t used for some time! So for a stress free time when the “C” word comes around this year, go to www.smartplanner.ie , and set up your account today. Think of it as a way to outsmart the “you” of 2009!

By Niamh Lynch