We are embarking on a new year, and for most of us, this means a period of unveiled excitement, hopefulness, high levels of emotional energy and usually renewing promises to accomplish a goal(s)that we’ve struggled with every year before—goals like lose weight, exercise more, give up smoking, get our finances in order. Sound familiar?

Guess what? We can and we will be successful at money management by following these four simple steps that will take you into the New Year and beyond.

To help keep these tips firmly in mind, just remember this simple refrain:

Spend Less....Save More:

The first letter of each word corresponds with one key idea.

• Spending habits: Track daily spending for a month to learn and know where your money is going. This is an important first step so that you take control and stop wondering where your paycheck went.
• Live with discipline: Create your spending plan at least one month in advance, every month, and stick to it. No exceptions. Either cut up your credit cards or stow them in the freezer. Seriously!
• Short and long term goals: Know where you want to be financially by end of 2016. How do you want to feel? What are you planning to achieve?
• Maintain an emergency savings: Save for those unplanned expenses that are sure to happen. Maintain these deposits in an inconvenient location without easy access for transfers or withdrawals. Payroll direct deposits can make this a painless process.

Remember: Rome was not built overnight and your financial habits will take some time to mature. Take money management one step at a time and, over time, you will be capable, confident and successful in personal financial management.

Cherylyn Strong, MSW, serves as Community Impact Manager for Financial Stability at Valley of the Sun United Way where she trains professionals to develop coaching skills as well as gain knowledge and tools to easily integrate financial coaching into their daily work with clients. In this capacity, she also monitors performance of contracted agencies in the areas of financial capability, workforce development and ending homelessness.