About Today: Get Your Finances in Order

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Today Last year I resolved to (finally) pay off my student loans. Success! Woo hoo! What's on my financial resolutions list in 2012? Better budgeting, reducing credit card debt, saving for retirement, and paying my taxes early. Create a Budget--and Stick to It Firm budgets are a gateway to financial stability, in large part because they help keep superfluous spending in check. They're fairly easy to put together, too, but here's the not-so-secret catch: creating a budget and sticking to a budget are two entirely different beasts. Characteristics of a Successful Budget The Roots of Overspending See More About:  budgeting  saving money  tracking expenses Reduce (or Eliminate) Your Debt I think we can all agree that crazy-insane interest rates on borrowed money are the pits. I think we also know there's only one proven way to avoid those rates: paying off the debt. 12 Credit Moves to Make in 2012 How to Repair Your Credit See More About:  paying old debts  managing debt  how to pay off your debt Allocate More Savings for Retirement Last night I was visited by a despondent Future Me, who begged and pleaded with me to stop putting retirement planning on the backburner. If I didn't start saving this year, he threatened a visit from Teenager Me as revenge. Oh, the horror! I'll save, I'll save! How Much You Need to Retire Avoid These Retirement Planning Mistakes See More About:  saving for retirement  investing  retirement planning Beat the Annual Taxes Deadline Remember that episode of The Simpsons where Homer, scrambling to beat the tax-filing deadline, bundles up his hastily filled out forms in a football-sized wad and tosses 'em in at the last second? He was (obviously) audited that year. Moral: don't pull a Homer Simpson. Tax Rates for 2012 Basic Ways to Reduce Your Taxes See More About:  tax deadlines  2011  2012 Today Ads Retirement Income Credit Card Debt Budgeting Worksheet Retirement Savings Earn Money Featured Articles Superlative Sights of the US Pairing Nuts and Cheese History of G.I. Joe Cheap Home Pedicure Tools 10 Rules of Stain Removal Must-Own Symphonies   More from About.com Living with Depression By obtaining the correct medical intervention and learning better coping skills, you can not only live with depression, but live well. More> 9 Symptoms of Depression If you have experienced five or more of these symptoms within the same two week period, this could be indicative of an episode of depression. More>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Today newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2011 About.com     Follow us on: Advertisement