It is a surprise to no one that every year we try to make it the best year possible. That is why phrases that g along "Make this year, your year!" are so popular. But having a great year is not all about keeping up with all those resolutions or getting that raise at work you have been expecting. Having a great or better year is mainly all about the little things. if you fill up your year with fun little things they are sure to add up into a fun and happy year! Here are five things to try this year to help you have "the year of your life!".

1. Fill a bottle with money!

I know for a fact that most of us want to save money every year. We all have that one trip we want to take that is just out of our budget or that one thing we want to buy but never have enough money to get. But it doesn't have to be like that anymore. There is this really cool idea I saw on Pinterest which consists pf filling a bottle with money and surprisingly it does help to save a lot of money! Did you know that a 20 oz. bottle filled with dimes is about $120.00? Or that one gallon filled with quarters holds around 700.00?! That is a lot of money you can save just by collecting loose change and is entirely possible to fill in one year. Just imagine what you could buy with an extra $100 or 700!

2. Take a road trip

One of my lifelong goals is to explore the world but unfortunately, just as any regular college student, I'm way too broke to travel anywhere. Backpacking through Europe or South America sounds great until you figure out it would take thousands of dollars to make it possible. But part of the reason I'm always "too broke to travel" is because the idea of traveling oftentimes includes going out of the country or even the continent! But in reality, there are so many more places to travel around our country and even our state that are sure to be within budget. This year I dare you and me to take a road trip somewhere within our state or city or country somewhere around you that you have never taken the time to visit or that you simply didn't know about!

3. Write memorable moments down!

Here is another popular Pinterest idea: It basically consists of writing a memory or two every day and put them in a jar or any glass container of your choice. At the end of the year, you'll have at least 365 different memories to reflect upon. Another way to keep memorable moments is to buy a memory book (a.k.a. One line a day book) they sell them at most crafts stores, bookstores, and I've even seen them at stores like ross and Tj Maxx. These fun little books come in one, three and five-year formats that prompt you to write one thing that happened every day of the year so you can keep all of those unforgettable, regrettable and memorable experiences we go through daily.

4. Join a book club (or any club)

I can say without a doubt that the majority of us like or would like to make more friends. Not that the ones we have aren't fine but as human beings, we are naturally inclined to socialize, it's just part of who we are. And what easier way to do that than by joining a club? there are clubs for any hobby or passion you could think of out there but the most popular by far is a book club. Most libraries, schools, and churches have book clubs available but if you're not likely to go to any of these places or don't want the face to face experience there are hundreds if not thousands of book clubs online that you can join. with a quick google, you can find book clubs for most topics and age groups. Not only will you be making friends in no time but it'll also get you reading which is a popular new years resolution, so you're basically killing two birds with one stone.

5. Pamper yourself at least once a month