If getting your financial $#!t together is one of your New Year’s resolutions, here's a to-do list from personal finance bloggers:
1. Pay off debt. Jackie Beck of The Debt Myth says, “Commit to only spending money you already have and gradually pay off existing debt."
2. Log what you spend. Nick True of Mapped Out Money says keeping track of our spending is the easiest way to detect possible waste.
3. Think about your next six months. Would you have enough to live off if (heaven forbid) something happened at work? Eric Rosenberg of Personal Profitability says, "2017 is the year of the emergency fund! If you don’t have enough saved to cover three to six months of expenses, it’s time to get saving."
4. Save your first $1,000. No matter how long it takes, aim to save your first $1,000. Kate Dore of Cashville Skyline says, "Start with $1,000 and work toward saving to three to [six] months of expenses."