10 Specific Financial Resolutions to Transform Your Money in 2025

How to pick and and take action on 2025 financial goals no matter where you are in your journey.

The new year is the perfect time to take control of your finances—but where do you start?

Picking the right financial goal can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

Think about what matters most to you:

• Do you want to get out of debt?

• Start saving?

• Learn how to grow your money through investing?

Whatever you decide, the key is to set SMART goals:

• Specific – What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

• Measurable – How will you track progress?

• Achievable – Can you realistically hit this goal with your current resources?

• Relevant – Does this goal matter to your life right now?

• Time-Bound – When will you accomplish it?

Pro tip: Writing down your goals makes you 42% more likely to achieve them. So grab a pen or your favorite app and start planning.

Need inspiration?

Here are 10 financial resolutions that will not only help you crush your money goals in 2025 but also build wealth for years to come.

I took it one step forward and outlined exactly how you can make sure your goals are SMART so you are more likely to take a next step and stick with your goals.

1. Address Your Money Mindset Head-On

Your thoughts about money shape your financial reality. If you believe “I’ll always be broke” or “Investing isn’t for me,” guess what? You’ll stay stuck.

Here’s the scary part: Without a mindset shift, you’ll keep making the same money mistakes—overspending, avoiding investing, or living paycheck to paycheck. A healthy money mindset is the foundation for every other financial goal on this list.

SMART Goal Example:

• Specific: Read Get Good with Money by Tiffany Aliche.

• Measurable: Journal one money affirmation daily for 30 days, like “I am worthy of financial success.”

• Achievable: Start by forgiving yourself for past money mistakes.

• Relevant: A positive money mindset makes it easier to save, invest, and build wealth.

• Time-Bound: Start today and reassess in 30 days.

2. Enhance Your Financial Literacy

Here’s the truth: If you don’t understand how money works, it’ll keep slipping through your fingers.

Learning how to save and invest isn’t just for the rich or finance nerds—it’s for everyone who wants to grow their money.

Imagine staying stuck in the dark, relying on outdated advice or guessing your way through decisions. Don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back. Knowledge is power—and profit.

SMART Goal Example:

• Specific: Attend the next FREE “Beginner Investing Workshop for Women”

• Measurable: Set up your first investment account on your own within two weeks of attending (yes this is entirely possible and I’ll show you why during the workshop.)

• Achievable: Start with $300 from savings and commit to investing $50/month.

• Relevant: Knowing how to invest is essential for growing wealth long-term.

• Time-Bound: Open your account by February 1, 2025.

3. Create a Plan to Pay Down Credit Card Debt

Credit card debt is like a financial parasite—it eats away at your paycheck and blocks your ability to invest in your future. High interest rates mean you’re paying more and getting nothing in return.

If you ignore it, your balance will only grow, and your dream of financial freedom will stay out of reach.

SMART Goal Example:

• Specific: Pay off $5,000 in credit card

• Measurable: Put $1000/month toward the debt with the highest interest rate.

• Achievable: Cancel unused subscriptions to free up $150/month and pick up a once a week side hustle that adds $300 to your pocket.

• Relevant: Clearing debt creates room to start growing your money through investing.

• Time-Bound: Pay off $5,000 of debt by July 1, 2025

4. Create a values-based Intentional Spending Plan

Without a plan, your money vanishes faster than a tub of ice cream during a breakup. A spending plan gives you control over where your money goes, so you can spend on what matters most to you and invest the rest.

If you don’t create one, you risk falling into the “where did all my money go?” trap month after month.

SMART Goal Example:

• Specific: Use the free version of Empower to track spending for 30 days.

• Measurable: Reduce dining-out expenses from $300 to $150/month.

• Achievable: Meal prep three days a week to save $10/day.

• Relevant: A budget helps you save for big goals, like investing.

• Time-Bound: Stick to this budget for three months and reassess.

5. Start an Emergency Fund

Life happens: your car breaks down, your roof leaks, or you lose your job. Without an emergency fund, these unexpected events could throw you into debt, more debt, or wipe out your savings.

An emergency fund is your safety net, and it also protects your ability to keep investing, even during tough times.

SMART Goal Example:

• Specific: Save $3,000 for emergencies.

• Measurable: Deposit $300/month into a high-yield savings account.

• Achievable: Sell unused items (like that treadmill-turned-laundry-rack) to jumpstart your fund.

• Relevant: Financial security starts with having a safety net.

• Time-Bound: Reach $3,000 by October 31, 2025.

6. Increased Retirement Savings Rate

Picture this: You’re 65, sipping margaritas on the beach, and living off your investments. Sounds great, right? Now imagine the opposite—still working because you didn’t save enough.

Retirement may feel far away, but the longer you wait to save, the harder it gets.

SMART Goal Example:

• Specific: Increase your 401(k) contribution by 2%.

• Measurable: Contribute $X more per paycheck.

• Achievable: Cut back on unnecessary spending to fund the increase.

• Relevant: Maximizing your employer match means free money for retirement.

• Time-Bound: Adjust contributions by end of January 2025.

7. Grow Your Retirement Money Faster

Have you forgotten about old 401(k)s or left them unmanaged? No idea how your Roth IRA is invested? Neglecting these accounts is like leaving free money on the table.

By consolidating and investing strategically, you can ensure your retirement savings work harder for you.

SMART Goal Example:

• Specific: Choose your own specific low-fee investments in your 401(k).

• Measurable: Learn how to invest in low-fee index funds for a diversified portfolio.

• Achievable: You can learn how to invest in index funds through an online course or book in a couple of hours.

• Relevant: Simplifying accounts makes retirement planning easier.

• Time-Bound: Select your new investments by February 15th, 2025.

8. Learn Simple Low-Maintenance Strategies

Think investing is too complicated? The real risk is not investing at all. Without growing your money, inflation will quietly eat away at your purchasing power year after year.

Investing helps you outpace inflation and build wealth over time.

SMART Goal Example:

• Specific: Open a brokerage account with Fidelity.

• Measurable: Invest $500 upfront and $50/month.

• Achievable: Fund this by skipping one coffee and one Uber Eats order per week.

• Relevant: Investing grows wealth for long-term goals like home buying or retirement.

• Time-Bound: Set up your account by January 15, 2025. Learn how to invest by January 31st.

  This is something we will talk in detail about during my next free beginner investing workshop. Don’t miss it! Save your seat here.

9. Update Your Beneficiaries

If you’ve had life changes like marriage, divorce, or kids, your beneficiary designations may be outdated. Failing to update them could mean your money goes to the wrong person—or gets tied up in legal battles.

SMART Goal Example:

• Specific: Review and update all beneficiary designations.

• Measurable: Check one account per week.

• Achievable: Spend 15 minutes per week during your lunch break.

• Relevant: Ensuring your money goes to the right people is part of smart planning.

• Time-Bound: Finish updates by March 31, 2025.

10. Look for Ways to Make More Money

Saving is great, but earning more is a game-changer. A side hustle could help you pay off debt faster, boost your investments, or build a financial cushion.

SMART Goal Example:

• Specific: Start freelancing as a graphic designer on Fiverr.

• Measurable: Earn $200 from your first gig by February 28, 2025.

• Achievable: Spend 2 hours refining your portfolio and profile weekly.

• Relevant: Extra income accelerates your financial goals.

• Time-Bound: Have your Fiverr profile set up by January 15, 2025.

The cost of doing nothing with your finances is just too high.

Staying in debt, missing out on savings, and letting inflation eat away at your money will never get you to where you want to go. But with resolutions like these and SMART goals, you can take control of your money and grow your wealth in 2025.

Ready to start investing?

Join our free Beginner Investing Workshop and take the first step toward a more secure financial future.