Did you make a New Year’s resolution about seven weeks ago? For 2024, many Americans are making the resolution to adopt healthy habits – concerning their bodies, minds and finances.

As the following Statista Survey shows, out of all US participants who said they were making one or several New Year’s resolutions, almost 60% wanted to save more money and 50% wanted to exercise more, while 47% planned to eat healthier in 2024. More popular resolutions for the upcoming year also circled around improving one’s health, with weight loss, spending less time on social media and reducing stress on the job among the favorite answers.

If you are among the vast majority that want to save more money, then it might be time to get your overall finances in order. While it’s true that the stock market has recently reached new record highs and unemployment is still at historical lows, there is always more we can do to better the financial picture for ourselves and our families. There is every reason to make 2024 your year to accomplish what you set out to do. 

Create a Budget

The centerpiece of any financial resolution – including saving more money – is to create a budget for the entire year. This isn’t as daunting as it sounds. Decide with your partner and family members what the big expenses are for 2024. Will you need to buy a new car? Take a vacation? Fix the roof or replace the air conditioner?