New Goals for the New Year!

Perhaps you're someone who just checks in for dailies, or during school holiday breaks. Perhaps you're a student with plenty of time on their hands, or a dedicated Neo-holic who can't bear to spend a single day away from the site. Whichever category you fit into, there's no better time than now to create some account goals for the new year.

Here are some suggestions that could help get you started:

1. Set a Savings Goal

Whether you put in 100nps a day, 1000nps a week, or even aim for a larger goal each month, every little bit adds up. If you're feeling safe, you could put everything into the Bank and watch it accrue interest for you daily; if you're feeling a little adventurous, you could invest into the Stock Market to try and increase your earnings; and if you're feeling REALLY excitable, why not gamble your luck (and your savings!) with Food Club?

2. Aim for a new avatar (or five!)

Hunting for avatars is a great way to improve your account. Even top collectors usually have that one elusive avatar that they just can't get their hands on - it might be frustrating and feel totally out of your reach, but they are usually achievable in the end. If it's a game avatar you're missing, practice makes perfect. If it's an item that you're needing to borrow, save your pennies and reach out for help on the Neoboards. If it's a pet that you are hoping to find, get zapping with the Lab Ray. And if it's a random avatar that haunts you, well, all you can do is hope for a little bit of luck to come your way!

3. Find yourself a new favourite game

We all have that one game we love to play and are consistently good at; the game that you know you can easily score well in. Why not try a few other games and see if you can broaden your horizons? I personally like to choose an avatar game that is challenging, and just keep working on it until I master it. There are still a few extra tricky ones just out of my reach, but having the goal of beating them in mind, always makes me work harder. Best of all, it will help you earn some more Neopoints and maybe even earn yourself a trophy!

4. Complete a Stamp Album

If you had asked me last year if I was interested in attempting to collect stamps, I would have laughed at you. There was no way I could afford to do that, not with my measly restocking and gaming skills! But I was stubborn, I saved up everything I had, and I managed to do it! It doesn't have to be one of the more fancy stamp avatar albums; why not start small and start collecting some sea shells? Sure, there may not be an avatar released for that album (yet!) but it's a great place to start. The challenge of finding stamps, shells or other collectible items is a huge one, but it's a wonderful long-term goal to work towards over the year.

5. Give your pet a make-over

If your pet has stayed the same colour for a while now, the new year might be the perfect time to give them a whole new look. Hunt around the Neoboards for inspiration, save your pennies, and you will soon be the proud owner of a very good looking companion. You could even dip your toes into the wide world of customising your Pet - but be warned, once you get started, it can be very hard to stop!

6. Re-vamp your Gallery

if you've had the same theme in your gallery for a while now, you might find that it's time to change things up a bit. You could start a whole new theme, or even just expand upon the one you already have. You might decide to give your whole gallery layout a spruce up as well, and perhaps challenge yourself to submit it to the Gallery Spotlight when it's completed. Saving and searching for your growing gallery collection is a great way to explore and invest in the Neopets site.

7. Make a new friend

Whether you prefer chatting on the Neoboards or conversing more privately in a Guild setting, your fellow players are what make Neopets so special. We don't come back for the pixels; we come back for the company! Jump into the boards, send a few random gifts to newbies on the boards, get involved in group activities - all of these are great ways to make some new friends!

8. Try something new

Have you ever fed a hungry Kadoatie? Have you ever correctly guessed a Mystery Pic? Have you ever entered your pet into the Beauty Contest? They might seem like things which are impossible to achieve, but you'll never know if you're any good at them unless you try. Do some research beforehand, ask your Neofriends for advice, and then just get right in there and have a go. You never know, you might just find yourself welcoming a brand new hobby into your daily playing experience.

9. Work towards a new trophy

While a lot of players prefer trying for a trophy around the first of the month when the scores reset, don't let that stop you from trying for one for yourself at any time. Pick a game you enjoy, practice until your fingers fall off, and hope for some luck - you might just find yourself up on a high score table. Another option to add to your trophy count is to make sure you've mastered some of the always-available game trophies, such as Cheat, Cellblock, and Go!Go!Go! A trophy I always like to try for, or improve, is Better than You, so keep an eye out for it when you see it released in the news. Good luck!

10. Have something published

There is nothing more exciting than seeing your name up in print! The Neopian Times is the most famous publication there is around here, but you don't always have to be a writer to have something published. You could try your hand at a poem, a short story, or even a comic or art gallery submission. Wherever your talents lie, utilise them! You might just find yourself with an extra shiny trophy on your user lookup.

These are just a few options for you, but the possibilities are endless. Improving your account can be hard work, but ticking off your goals one by one is a very satisfying feeling. Go on.. make your own list and get started today!