Every year I like to really take stock of what I would like to accomplish. The key to setting achievable New Year’s resolutions is to set attainable goals. Goals that you can create plans for. My personal finance goals in 2008 are simple: Set aside more money for retirement, find more ethical investing ideas, budget money for a yard and fence, avoid amassing debt.

Retirement goals

It’s not enough to say that I will set a little more aside this year. I need a specific amount for my retirement account. Currently, I’m only putting in about one half of the limit on my retirement account.
So my goal is to increase that number to three quarters. Next year I hope to invest the limit in my retirement account, and open one for my husband (he’s still a student earning his Ph.D. right now). As a freelance writer, one can’t always plan for what money will be available at any given time.

I’ve divided the increase I’ll need by 12, and each month I’ll put that extra in.  A simple way to add a little bit more toward my retirement account. And to incrementally reach an overall goal. I know I can’t put in the maximum amount this year, but by increasing the amount, I’ll taking a stepping stone toward reaching that goal next year.