At the start of the new year, many of us make big, ambitious resolutions to finally get our finances in order. We promise to cut our spending, pay off debt, or double our retirement contributions. However, the awkward timeline and scope of these New Year’s resolutions often set us up for failure. By February, most of them are abandoned because life gets in the way. There’s a better approach than the annual drive for perfection.

Instead of an annual overhaul, consider doing a mini financial reset each month. The beginning or end of the month provides a natural milestone to review finances and set realistic goals for the next 30 days, and this will keep your finances on track all year long.

First, I recommend tracking what comes in and goes out each month. Understanding your net income (what comes in) versus your monthly expenses (what goes out) is the first step in building your savings. It also shows you how much you’re spending on essentials like housing, groceries, or debt payments versus fun things like dining out or entertainment, and where you can cut back in certain categories.

Log in to all your accounts to update your balance: checking account, savings account, investments and debts.