bad credit loans home loan quity loans money loans sovereign bank bah rates personal finance loans with bad credit quick personal loans bussiness loans boat loans commercial loans pnc bank low interest loans no credit check loans tcf bank mortgage insurance government loans loan officer mortgage interest rates mortgage broker instant loans direct loans mortgage loans bank loans citi bank first national bank union bank small business loans american general finance lasalle bank cd rates mortgage brokers bank of new york payday loan hard money loans home equity loan loan calculator loan calculators quick loans title loans us bank payday loans car loan calculator student loans bankruptcy loans small business loan postage rates secured credit cards car loan orchard bank quick payday loans secured loans second mortgages cash loans best credit cards key bank loans online stafford loan loans for people with bad credit mortgage home equity loans direct loan mortgage calculators bad credit mortgages credit cards for bad credit hotel rates unsecured loans mortgage company debt consolidation loans paycheck loans personal loans payment calculator bad credit personal loans mortgage rates mortgage companies auto loans unsecured personal loans money in the bank sntrust bank second mortgage student loan postal rates bad credit credit cards credit cards business loans mortgage calculator college loans financial aid auto loan calculator student loan consolidation mortgage leads fast loans finance home mortgages home loans find loans cash advance loans s loans poor credit

The New Year is right around the corner, and that’s a good day to review your finances. The past year has seen Americans of all age and income levels take some serious hits to their household wealth. Here’s a checklist to help you get back on track with your money and decide which areas you need to focus on most in 2009.

1. Review Your Spending Habits. Take a look at where your money went that past year. Gather up checking detail statements, receipts, and household bills. Reviewing one to two months of spending should give you a good view of where your money goes. Look for places to cut your spending to form your dollars stretch farther.

2. Set up a Budget. After listing all of your fixed expenses that won’t budge, such as housing or utilities, set up spending limits for discretionary items like entertainment, dining out, and travel. Use the online budgeting tool at CNN Money to guide you.

3. Tackle Your Debt. One of

the most vital things you can do to improve your overall financial picture is to pay off as much debt as possible. Put together a workable plan to focus on paying down one debt at a moment. Choose the debt with the lowest balance to pay more than the minimum each month. Once that’s paid off, roll by the amount you’ve been paying toward it to another debt.

4. Don’t Give Up on Retirement. Retirement plans in the U.S. lost about $2 trillion by the past 15 months as of October. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t work toward a comfortable retirement. whether you haven’t already, manufacture an appointment with your financial advisor to do some damage control to your portfolio.

Use the New Year to reprioritize and look for ways to improve your situation. Put together a financial plan that’s right for your situation. Having a roadmap will help you stay on course with tackling your most challenging money issues.

Orginal post by Francine Huff