Top 4 Financial Resolutions You Can Actually Follow in 2014

We bury our heads in the sand when it comes to money. Most of us don't like discussing it, especially when it comes to lack of it. On occasion, it can be tempting to just put the pile of bills in the drawer and forget about them, especially at this time of year. However, taking money seriously doesn't demand hours spent analyzing bank statements, or trying to save money you don't have. These four tips can help you get your financial resolutions on track once and for all, and make a huge difference in your money, even if you only end up keeping one or two of them:

1. Budget You may have tried this before and failed, but how did you go about it? Did you sit down and use a few hypothetical figures which you then failed to stick to, or did you write down every penny that came into and left your bank account for a couple of months, and work from real life? The latter will help you make a budget that actually bears relation to how you and your family spend money and be easier to keep to.


2. Debt This will probably be the hurdle you don't wish to face, not because you're irresponsible, but because you don't see how you can ever repay what you owe. However, work out a payment plan with your creditors and aim to pay back your smallest debt first, throwing extra money at it. No extra cash? Read on.

3. Keep a penny jar Quite often, that small change in your pocket turns into "dead" money. Every two or three months, take your penny jar to the bank, and "recycle" that money, throwing it at your smallest debt - it will be paid off in no time at all.

4. Be prepared What would you do if you were sick, or if major appliances you're reliant on broke down, and you couldn't afford to replace them? Make sure you're adequately insured. You may think you can't afford premiums, but in actuality you can't afford not to.