With the end of 2024 around the corner, you might be reflecting on for 2025.

Whether youSA国际影视传媒檙e of your parentsSA国际影视传媒� house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated, said Courtney Alev, consumer advocate for Credit Karma.

SA国际影视传媒淓ntering a new year doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 erase all our financial challenges from the prior year,SA国际影视传媒� Alev said. SA国际影视传媒淏ut it can really help to bring a fresh-start mentality to how youSA国际影视传媒檙e managing your finances.SA国际影视传媒�

If youSA国际影视传媒檙e planning to make financial resolutions for the new year, experts recommend that you start by evaluating the state of your finances in 2024. Then, set specific goals and make sure theySA国际影视传媒檙e attainable for your lifestyle.

Here are some tips from experts:

Change your relationship with money

Think about how you currently deal with SA国际影视传媒� whatSA国际影视传媒檚 good, whatSA国际影视传媒檚 bad, and what can improve.

SA国际影视传媒淟et this be the year you change your relationship with money,SA国际影视传媒� said Ashley Lapato, personal finance educator for YNAB, a budgeting app.

If you feel like money is a chore, that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 shame surrounding the topic of money, or like you were born being SA国际影视传媒渂ad at money,SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 time to change that mentality, Lapato said.

To adjust your approach, Lapato recommends viewing money goals as an opportunity to imagine your desired lifestyle in the future. She recommends asking questions like, SA国际影视传媒淲hat do my 30s look like? What do my 40s look like?SA国际影视传媒� and using money as a means to get there.

Liz Young Thomas, head of SoFi Investment Strategy, added that itSA国际影视传媒檚 key you forgive yourself for past mistakes in order to move into the new year with motivation.

Know your SA国际影视传媒渨hySA国际影视传媒�

When setting your financial resolutions for 2025, itSA国际影视传媒檚 important to establish the SA国际影视传媒渨hySA国际影视传媒� of each, said Matt Watson, CEO of Origin, a financial tracking app.

SA国际影视传媒淚f you can attach the financial goal to a bigger life goal, itSA国际影视传媒檚 much more motivating and more likely youSA国际影视传媒檒l continue on that path,SA国际影视传媒� Watson said.

Whether youSA国际影视传媒檙e saving to buy a house, pay off debt or take a summer vacation, being clear about the goal can keep you motivated. Watson also recommends using a tool to help you keep track of your finances, such as an app, spreadsheet, or website.

Budget, budget, budget

SA国际影视传媒淎fter three years of inflation, your pay increases are likely still playing catch up to your monthly expenses, leaving you wondering where all the money is going,SA国际影视传媒� said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate. SA国际影视传媒淢ake that monthly budget for 2025 and resolve to track your spending against it throughout the year.SA国际影视传媒�

McBride said that you may need to make adjustments during the year as certain expenses increase, which would require cutting back in other areas.

SA国际影视传媒淐alibrate your spending with your income, and any month you spend less than budgeted, transfer the difference into your savings account, ideally a high-yield savings account,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Pay down outstanding debt

SA国际影视传媒淚nterest rates arenSA国际影视传媒檛 likely to come down very fast, so youSA国际影视传媒檙e still going to have to put in the hard work of paying down debt, especially high-cost credit card debt, and do so with urgency,SA国际影视传媒� McBride said.

Start by taking stock of how much debt you have now relative to the beginning of the year. Hopefully youSA国际影视传媒檝e made steady progress on paying it down, but, if youSA国际影视传媒檝e gone in the other direction, McBride encourages making a game plan. That includes looking into zero per cent balance transfer offers.

Take control of your credit card interest rate

SA国际影视传媒淵ou have more power over credit card interest rates than you think you do,SA国际影视传媒� said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. SA国际影视传媒淲ielding that power is one of the best moves you can make in 2025.SA国际影视传媒�

A zero per cent balance transfer is SA国际影视传媒渁 good weaponSA国际影视传媒� in the fight against high card APRs, or annual percentage rates, he said. A low-interest personal loan is an option as well.

You may simply be able to pick up the phone and ask for a lower interest rate. LendingTree found that a majority of people who did that in 2024 were successful, and the average reduction was more than six points.

Set realistic, practical goals

When planning for your financial resolutions, itSA国际影视传媒檚 important to consider how youSA国际影视传媒檙e going to make your goals sustainable for your lifestyle, said Credit KarmaSA国际影视传媒檚 Alev.

SA国际影视传媒淚t really is a marathon, not a sprint,SA国际影视传媒� Alev said.

Alev recommends setting realistic, practical goals to make it easier to stick with them. For example, instead of planning to save thousands of dollars by the end of the year, start by saving $20 a paycheck.

Even when your plans are achievable, there are times youSA国际影视传媒檒l get derailed. Maybe itSA国际影视传媒檚 an unexpected or an extraordinary life event. When these situations happen, Alev recommends trying not to feel defeated and working to get back on track without feeling guilty.

DonSA国际影视传媒檛 bury your head in the sand

SA国际影视传媒淵ou canSA国际影视传媒檛 manage what you canSA国际影视传媒檛 see, so set a New YearSA国际影视传媒檚 resolution to check your credit score monthly in 2025,SA国际影视传媒� said Rikard Bandebo, chief economist at VantageScore. SA国际影视传媒淏e sure to pay more than the minimum on your credit accounts, as thatSA国际影视传媒檚 one of the best ways to boost your credit score.SA国际影视传媒�

Bandebo also advises student loan borrowers to make all payments on time, as servicers will begin to report late payments starting in January, and missed payments will affect borrowersSA国际影视传媒� credit scores.

Automate savings, where possible

Automated changes, like increasing workplace 401(k) plan contributions, setting up direct deposits from paychecks into dedicated savings accounts, and arranging for monthly transfers into an IRA and/or 529 college savings accounts all add up quickly, McBride said.

Slow down

Your financial goals can encompass more than just managing your money better SA国际影视传媒� they can also be about keeping your money safe from . A golden rule to protect yourself from is to SA国际影视传媒渟low down,SA国际影视传媒� said Johan Gerber, executive vice-president of security solutions at Mastercard.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou have to slow down and talk to other people if youSA国际影视传媒檙e not sure (whether or not) itSA国际影视传媒檚 scam,SA国际影视传媒� said Gerber, who recommends building an accountability system with family to keep yourself and your loved ones secure.

Scammers use urgency to make people fall for their tricks, so taking your time to make any financial decision can keep you from losing money.

Focus on financial wellness

Your donSA国际影视传媒檛 always have to be rooted in a SA国际影视传媒� they can also be about well-being. Finances are deeply connected with our mental health, and, to take care of our money, we also need to take care of ourselves.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think that now more than any other year, your financial wellness should be a resolution,SA国际影视传媒� said Alejandra Rojas, personal finance expert and founder of The Money Mindset Hub, a mentoring platform for women entrepreneurs. SA国际影视传媒淵our mental health with money should be a resolution.SA国际影视传媒�

To focus on your financial wellness, you can set one or two goals focusing on your relationship with money. For example, you could find ways to address and resolve financial trauma, or you could set a goal to talk more openly with loved ones about money, Rojas said.

SA国际影视传媒擝y Cora Lewis And Adriana Morga, The Associated Press