From the Wall Street Journal

By KAREN BLUMENTHAL

Still mulling over your New Year’s financial resolutions?

David Laibson, a Harvard University economics professor, has one for you—one that many of us may wish we’d made last year.

“Promise that you’ll never try to time the market again,” he suggests, a not-too-subtle gibe at the many investors who sold their stock in the depths of the downturn early this year and then missed the huge rally that followed.

That’s not the only thing many of us could afford to improve. We would also like to save more, earn more and spend more wisely in 2010. But despite the fresh promise of a new year and a new decade, tackling all our goals at once can be overwhelming.

So to help you accomplish your many New Year’s ambitions, here’s a year’s worth of personal-finance aspirations, timed to major holidays to raise your chances of success:

• New Year’s Day: Save more.

“Saving more” is the top goal on people’s resolution list this year, according to a recent survey commissioned by Putnam Investments, which found that respondents put thriftiness ahead of those two perennials “losing weight” and “exercising more.”

But while dieting and exercise require discipline, effort and sweat, savings can easily be put on autopilot. Between bowl games and parties this weekend, take a few minutes to set up an automatic deduction from either your paycheck or your checking account to an online or a bank savings account. Or increase your contribution to your 401(k) by one percentage point. If the money isn’t in your paycheck or your checking account, chances are you won’t miss it.

In the same vein, commit at least half of any raise you receive this year to savings as well. That should be even easier to do, since you haven’t had that money in the first place.

June Schroeder, a financial planner with Liberty Financial Group in Elm Grove, Wis., offers another easy trick: Put any rebate checks and coupon discounts into your savings as well. A cousin of hers was religious about this. If the cash register tape said he had saved $5, he committed that to his savings. Over more than two decades, those savings and investment returns alone added up to more than $10,000, she says.

Ms. Schroeder is less rigid about her own contributions, but her rebate savings and money earned from recycling helps pay for vacations each year.

• Martin Luther King’s Birthday: Get educated.

In honor of the thoughtful civil-rights leader, take an hour or two over the long weekend to study up on one financial issue that you’ve ignored. Look up the expenses embedded in the mutual funds in your 401(k). Calculate how much your debt is costing you. Figure out what’s actually covered by your insurance policies—and what isn’t.

Real financial literacy means paying attention to how banks, lenders and investment firms make money off of us. “Failing to really focus is rolling the dice—and the house tends to win,” says Adam Levin, co-founder and chairman of Credit.com, a credit-information Web site. Reflective and forward-thinking consumers understand what they’ve signed up for.

• Presidents Day: Prepare for new credit-card rules.

Here’s a quickie, since your company may not give you this day off. In late February, the second phase of the Credit Card Act will kick in. To be well-prepared, look at your February credit-card bills to memorize your due dates, which, by law, will be the same each month. Paying your bills on time is the most important factor in your creditworthiness, and now should be even easier to accomplish.

While you’ve got the bills in front of you, note your credit limits; issuers won’t be able to ding you with extra fees if you charge more than this amount, but you may have your card rejected at the store if you ignore your limit. Also take a look at your interest rate: If it’s variable, it will climb when interest rates go up.

Finally, expect new billing statements by summer with far more information, including how much interest you have paid year-to-date.

• Your birthday: Get your annual credit report.

Whenever your birthday falls, take advantage of the once-a-year freebie and check your credit report for accuracy and to help avoid identity theft. The credit bureaus will also try to sell you a credit score and may offer a discount. If you want an idea of what your score is, buy the FICO score, developed by Fair Isaac Corp., and avoid signing up for a monitoring service, which isn’t worth the cost.

• Memorial Day: Finally, have “that” conversation.

While remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice, consider your own mortality as well. Talk to your adult children or your parents—or both—about your or their estate, philanthropic goals and other wishes. If your children are still at home, start a conversation about money and investing. If you haven’t prepared a will or drawn up papers for a health-care proxy or power of attorney, now is the time to do so. Too often, we avoid these issues until it’s too late.

• July Fourth: Declare your financial independence.

Now that the first half of the year is over, review your portfolio to be sure you’re still properly diversified in a comfortable mix of stocks, fixed income and cash. If you were too busy to rebalance your holdings in January, do it now.

In addition, don’t be scared to pull some holdings off the table, says Tom Ruggie, of Ruggie Wealth Management in Tavares, Fla. If one of your companies’ prospects have changed or the stock has rallied, it may be time to move on, or to at least sell part of the holdings.

If you don’t feel confident making these decisions, find a financial adviser to help you. Check references and meet with at least a couple to be sure your goals, expectations and investment strategies mesh well—and that their fees are reasonable.

• Labor Day: Tame the monthly bills.

While relaxing from all your hard work, Colleen Schon, a senior vice president at Raymond James & Associates in Auburn Hills, Mich., suggests you review your biggest monthly expenses to see if you can find some meaningful savings. Can you cut the cellphone bill? Combine cable, phone and Internet services in a lower monthly rate? Refinance the mortgage? Remember to redirect at least part of any realized savings into a college or retirement account.

• Thanksgiving: Don’t let gift cards go to waste.

While waiting for the pies and turkey to cook, round up all your unused gift cards from your various drawers and glove compartments. Then take them with you to the mall for yourself or gifts for others, swap them with family members or donate them to a charity. Some cards may assess fees after a year without use even under the new rules. Either way, though, it’s silly to lend money to retailers.

• Christmas: Reflect on what’s most valuable to you.

Amid all the shopping, decisions about charitable donations and year-end chaos, we can lose sight of what we truly value. When I reflect back on this year, my best-spent dollars went to a night of theater with my parents, sporting events with my husband and a grand vacation with our college-age daughters—all far better than fancy cars or designer labels.

It’s worth taking some time each year to muse about your spending and financial priorities. The choices are free, and the payoff is priceless.

Write to Karen Blumenthal at familymoney@wsj.com