DENVER - It's been more than a month since many people made New Year's resolutions. Maybe your goal is to lose weight, save money, or even quit smoking. No matter what it is, February tends to be the month that can make or break those plans.
Two websites are geared to keep you on track, using money as a motivator.
StickK.com was created by three Yale University economists, and is founded on the research that suggests when people put money, or their reputation on the line, they are more likely to reach their goals.
In short, SkickK.com allows you set a goal and a time frame, and put a dollar amount in the pot, to help you stick to the plan. If you do, you're not charged, and if you don't you decide who gets the money like a friend or charity.
The site also allows you to have a friend or family member hold you accountable, and have your Facebook friends cheer you on along the way.
According to StickK.com's homepage, since it launched in 2008, users have put nearly $10 million on the line, resulting in 300,000 workouts completed and 2.5 million cigarettes not smoked.
Another website that focuses specifically on getting you into the gym is called GymPact.com. It was started by a Harvard student in 2010 and is available as an app for your iPhone.
How it works is you tell GymPact.com how many times a week you want to workout, and you pick a fee to charge yourself for breaking your pact. With the app, you can check in when you get to the gym and they'll use GPS to confirm you're really there. Come up short? GymPact.com will charge your card, but stick to your goal and GymPact will pay you - using money from people who didn't go.
In the end, whether you go with a web based program, or even your own, the best plans seem to not only put money at stake, but also use some form of accountability.
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