More than 40% of Americans make at least one New Year’s resolution. But, according to research from the University of Scranton, only 8% of us keep them. One way to increase the odds is to break one big resolution into smaller, more manageable parts.

This year, resolve to get a better handle on your finances. Doing it all at once and maintaining it for 12 months could be overwhelming. But, if you break it down into 12 smaller tasks spread out over the entire year, it can be done.

January: Start small

The first step can be the hardest. Take one or two items where you can cut back to save some cash. Examples: Bring your lunch instead of buying. Skip the coffee run. Or invite friends over instead of going out to dinner.

February: Create a budget

Every family should have a budget to make sure they stay on track. Click here for a budget worksheet to get started. Include all your expenses – fixed and variable.

March: Put your debt on a diet

The average American household has more than $15,000 dollars in credit card debt. Focus on paying your bills on time, prioritizing your payments, and don’t be afraid to ask your credit card company for a lower rate.

April: Save, Save, Save

April is a great month to work on your savings. Start by putting away as much of your tax return as possible. The goal is to put at least 10% of your earnings into savings – both short and long-term savings.

May: Financial spring cleaning

Take a good look at your assets – is there money in an old account that should be moved? Do you have money in a low-interest savings account that could be put to better use? Make sure you have a well-thought out financial plan and you are maximizing savings for retirement.

June: Protect yourself

With severe weather season approaching, now is the time to make sure you have the insurance policies that you really need. Look at your homeowners, renters and auto insurance, but don’t forget life insurance as well. Being underinsured can put your family and your finances at risk.

July: Check your credit reports

One in five people have errors on their credit reports. I advise my clients to check their credit reports once a year and dispute any errors they find. I’ll make it easy – click here to get your free report now.

August: Is your bank hurting your budget?

Take some time to shop around for a bank that better fits your needs. Consider what fees you’re paying and the accessibility to ATMs. There are lots of tools online that will help you compare different banks. Click here to get started.

September: Get organized

Keeping all of your financial paperwork in one place can help you stay on track with your financial goals. If possible, move your documents into an online system, or keep a file with tabs for bank statements, retirement paperwork and credit reports. Remember to keep important documents like birth and marriage certificates and social security cards in their own separate file.

October: Create a holiday shopping budget

Click here for my Holiday Shopping Budget Worksheet. Setting a budget will help you avoid using credit cards for your gifts, which often carry high interest rates. I recommend starting your shopping early so you can spread out your holiday purchases across several paychecks in October, November and December.

November: Get on the same page

It is so important for adult children and their parents to be on the same page financially. The Thanksgiving holiday may seem like a strange time for that discussion, but it may be the only time the whole family is under the same roof. Click here for a checklist of important financial information that you should make sure to discuss.

December: Look to the future

This is a good time to take a look at your financial progress over the last year and start planning your financial goals for 2015. What were your successes? Any failures? Writing down your goals makes them more concrete and easier to track throughout the year.