You’ve made your resolutions-

Exercise regularly. Eat right. Fill in the blank…

If you jotted down, “Get out of debt”, “Earn more money”, or “Save more” … then you may be serious about improving your financial situation.

But like most well-intentioned Americans, you are likely wondering where to start.

First, examine the goal.

Is the goal SMART? You know…Specific? Measurable? Attainable? Realistic? Timely?

Start with your goal to save money.

How much money can you save per paycheck? If you aren’t sure, then let the bank do the work for you.

Start by setting up a direct deposit, allocate a preset amount to go into savings, or even automatically deposit it into a different bank altogether.

After all, you can’t spend what you don’t see.

And that goal is specific, measurable - and attainable.

Is it realistic? If you argue you are living “paycheck-to-paycheck”, then rethink where your money went last month.

Do you remember if you paid an overdraft fee last month, or paid more on the late cell phone bill?

If you say you didn’t have the money to spend on these things, where did you find the money to pay them?

Did the company disconnect your cell phone? See, you probably did pay late charge even if you couldn’t really afford it.

Granted, it may not be realistic for you to save 10-20% now, but perhaps 3-5% is doable.

Finally, is it timely to start saving? If you have little or no savings, then it couldn’t be more timely!

If you don’t plan to save now, then “when”? And when you finally get around to “when I get to it”, will it be too late?

I would add a sixth part to SMART.

Is it “Motivational”?

If your goal is to exercise, you may start snacking the third week of January.

Why? Not because you don’t believe it’s good for you. You just are sufficiently motivated.

To motivate yourself into saving, you might try out what Tim Harford outlines in “How to Save Smarter”.

“Saving is much easier when it’s for something specific” he says.

He encourages people to focus what they are saving for with practical suggestions which will reinforce the connection in your mind.

For example, you might open a savings account for each specific goal: one for a new car, one for a vacation, one for a child’s college tuition.

If you do, you will have taken the first step into attaining what is worthwhile-

Laying out a vision of what you want – even if mean just putting away pennies for now.

If those goals are still too lofty – or too “out there” - then start with a more immediate goal-

Forego the trip to the convenience store until Friday when you have saved up for that 44 ounce drink or delicious hotdog.

Unless, of course, snacking is another line item on your New Year’s Resolution!