Setting New Financial Goals for the New Year

The first step in managing your money is having financial goals. The New Year is the ideal time to review your financial goals.

Your goals help you to guide your finances on a daily basis. You have something that you are working towards every day. You plan and follow a budget, using your goals as your map.

Without your financial goals, you don't really have the proper motivation to get out there and save. Without a plan, you aren't getting anywhere. If you don't set financial goals, you may never see financial independence.

If you've never set yourself any financial goals, you need to sit down with a pen and paper and look at what you want to accomplish. There is a reason you want to change your finances. Make a list of the things you want.

Your list will probably start with getting out of debt, starting a retirement account, saving to buy a home and the basics. But don't let that hold you back. Include everything you want to get out of your money to your list. If you want new furniture or a trip to Europe, include them. These are money goals that you can work towards.

Prioritize your list. While getting out of debt is a top priority, going to Europe would be something that could wait. Some goals you will be consistently working on at the same time. Others will wait until something else is accomplished.

Look at each of your goals and set yourself time limits. For example, you may know that you have 25 years to prepare for retirement. You might want to be debt-free in 6 years. Set these goals reasonably and remember that they can always be modified if necessary.