Make a New Year's Resolution to clean up your personal finances. Stick to a budget, live within your means, and put away savings every month. Below are the top three financial new year's resolutions. Make 2010 the year to stick to your financial new year's resolutions.

Do your personal finances need a tweak this year?

After two years of recession and an unemployment rate that topped 10 percent in 2009, it seems as though a little personal finance rebuilding might be in order.

But as we recover (slowly!) from the worst economy in decades, it’s a great opportunity to rethink where you are financially – and where you could be.

With some careful planning, you may be able to get there. With the New Year’s Resolutions in this week’s column, we’ll start a conversation about how to make your finances real estate-ready and get your credit in home buying shape.

This year, I resolve to:

1. Put myself and my family on a budget we can afford. For most Americans, the word “budget” turns the stomach. If that’s how the word makes you feel, don’t use it. Let’s look at concepts instead.

Simply put: Spend less than you earn. Buy in bulk (if it’s cheaper), at sales, and in advance of when you’ll actually need something. (If you wait until the last minute, it’ll generally cost you more to get the same item.) Cook at home more often, and use coupons if you can. Avoid take out foods and save restaurants for special events.

2. Pay off my charge cards. The average American has more than $9,000 in credit card debt. That’s in addition to a mortgage and a car loan. More twenty-somethings are paying off school debt than ever before.

Debt isn’t much of a problem unless you have financial dreams you hope to achieve – or you like to sleep at night.

3. Pay myself first and last. This little bit of common sense is particularly helpful if you’re trying to save for a down payment or another major purchase. Each month, make out an invoice to yourself for the amount you wish you were saving. It could be $50 or $500. When you pull out your checkbook to pay your bills each month, take out the invoice and literally pay it first.

For a more detailed plan for how to save money with your resolution, read my full article here, and I always appreciate comments. Let me know what your resolution is!