Financial matters are a concern to everyone. You may be attempting to get out of debt, saving up for a car or house down payment or planning ahead for retirement. However, it can be difficult for some people to make a plan with achievable goals, and then develop a process to stick with the plan.

Here are some tips to help you:

* Set some goals, and prioritize them. If you’re planning on reducing your credit card debt, college loan debt, or some other kind of debt, start listing all the money owed and a rough timeline of when you want to pay it back. You probably will also want to make a list of your spending habits (review your checking account and credit card statements to see how much money you really spend in a month).

* If you’re more interested in saving money for a special event or project, determine what the end goal amount is, so you can develop a savings plan and stick to it.

* By prioritizing your goals, you can figure out which ones you should put your energy toward accomplishing first.

* Whittle the goals down into achievable targets. It’s unrealistic to think you can tackle your entire debt in just one month, or be able to save enough money for early retirement with just a couple of paychecks. But if you put your efforts into targeting one specific debt – say paying off a credit card – with a specific extra payment each month, you’ll not only know when the credit card balance will be eliminated but also that you can accomplish your goal and reduce your debt. The same goes with setting money aside – if you have $5 or $10 from each paycheck transferred automatically into a separate account, your savings may eventually turn into a nice chunk of change.

Be prepared to make adjustments to your strategy or your goal. There are many factors that could change the balance of your financial goals or debt reduction, so keep an eye on your progress every couple of months. You might want to talk with a financial professional or your family and friends for added suggestions and ideas for making your plans better, and don’t be afraid to test new opportunities to see if they work for you.

Setting financial goals and developing ways to accomplish them will help you manage your money much better throughout your life.