The best way to reach your goals is by making a personal budget

As we suffer through a very long recession, many people will want to start the new year off with their financial New Year's Resolutions. Here are my top five tips for success with your financial New Year's Resolutions:

Set real, measurable goals. "I want to save money" is not a goal. "I want to save $50 per week" is a goal. "I want to save $50 per week so I can buy a $5,000 car in 100 weeks" is a clear, measurable goal. If you goal is clear and measurable, you are much more likely to succeed.
Make a plan to reach your goals. You want to save $300 per month: how are you going to do it? Make a list of specific expenses you can cut to reach your goal, or identify ways to increase your income. A goal without a plan to achieve the goal is not a real goal.
The best way to reach your goals is by making a personal budget. A budget is just a list of what comes in and what goes out every month. It doesn't have to be fancy. Use a piece of paper and a pencil, or a computer, but put it in writing! You need a list in front of you to see what you can cut.
If you have debts, make a plan to pay off your debts. Every financial expert will tell you to start a savings plan, but if you are in debt a savings plan is not your priority: your priority is to get out of debt. Start by making a list of your debts: write down the name of the lender, the amount owing, and the interest rate. Many people have no idea how much they owe in total until they write it down. Then, prioritize your debts in the order that you want to pay them off. Don't make the mistake of trying to repay your smallest debts first so that you have fewer bills to pay; instead, start with your highest interest rate debts. Paying off a department store credit card with a 25% interest rate will save you more money in the long run than paying off your line of credit with a 10% interest rate.
Finally, if your goal is to get out of debt, and if your budget tells you that it will be impossible to deal with your debts on your own, research your options and then get professional help.

There are lots of resources on the internet to help you get out of debt and succeed with your financial New Year's Resolutions, but only if you do the work and start now.
The best way to reach your goals is by making a personal budget. A budget is just a list of what comes in and what goes out every month. It doesn't have to be fancy. Use a piece of paper and a pencil, or a computer, but put it in writing! You need a list in front of you to see what you can cut.
If you have debts, make a plan to pay off your debts. Every financial expert will tell you to start a savings plan, but if you are in debt a savings plan is not your priority: your priority is to get out of debt. Start by making a list of your debts: write down the name of the lender, the amount owing, and the interest rate. Many people have no idea how much they owe in total until they write it down. Then, prioritize your debts in the order that you want to pay them off. Don't make the mistake of trying to repay your smallest debts first so that you have fewer bills to pay; instead, start with your highest interest rate debts. Paying off a department store credit card with a 25% interest rate will save you more money in the long run than paying off your line of credit with a 10% interest rate.

J. Douglas Hoyes is a chartered accountant and licensed trustee in bankruptcy, and he works with people in financial trouble. More information on New Year's Resolutions can be found on the Hoyes Michalos blog.