using custom NSDate format

-(NSDate *)firstDateOfYear:(NSDate *)date
{
   NSDateFormatter *outformatter = [[NSDateFormatter alloc] init];
    [outformatter setDateFormat:@"MMM dd, yyyy"];
    NSString *date_new = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"Jan 01, %@",[self getYearFrom:date]];
    NSLog(@"firstDate: %@",date_new);
    return [outformatter dateFromString:date_new];
}

-(NSString *)getYearFrom:(NSDate *)date
{
    NSDateFormatter *informatter = [[[NSDateFormatter alloc] init]autorelease];
    [informatter setDateStyle:NSDateFormatterMediumStyle];
    NSLog(@"ref-date: %@",[informatter stringFromDate:date]);
    NSString *date_str = [informatter stringFromDate:date];
    NSArray *date_comps = [date_str componentsSeparatedByString:@" "];
    return [date_comps lastObject];
}

//using it like             self.mStartingDate = [self firstDateOfYear:[NSDate date]];