With a new year ahead and the holiday fanfare behind, this is a great time to set money goals, especially if you recently spent a lot on gifts and travel and want to get your finances in shape.

Whether it's saving for a new car or boosting your bottom line, it's easy to set money goals. Reaching them is the hard part. However, tracking your progress can provide much-needed motivation.

To adjust your approach, Lapato recommends viewing money goals as an opportunity to imagine your desired lifestyle in the future. She recommends asking questions like, “What do my 30s look like?

Then, set specific goals and make sure they're attainable for your lifestyle. “Let this be the year you change your relationship with money,” said Ashley Lapato, personal finance educator for ...

To adjust your approach, Lapato recommends viewing money goals as an opportunity to imagine your desired lifestyle in the future. She recommends asking questions like, “What do my 30s look like?