One of your resolutions for the new year (if you made any) is probably to manage your finances better. That is an admirable goal, and this is an excellent time to get going on that, but if you haven’t been keeping careful track of your money before, it’s hard to see where to get started. J.D. from Get Rich Slowly has set out an excellent nine-step plan that will start you on the road to financial control.

J.D.:

If one of your goals for 2009 is to take control of your money (instead of letting it keep control of you), this crash course in financial basics can help guide the way. Here are nine simple but effective actions you can take to build a better financial future.

The plan covers topics like budgeting, debt-reduction, and emergency funds, and has straightforward and realistic steps to follow. As with anything in life, having the knowledge is one thing, you must still have the motivation and discipline to carry it out.