Make resolutions if you must: When you vow to track every dollar and never waste money again, you feel all clean and shiny for at least a few hours into the new year.

But that doesn’t usually last. Resolutions get broken because they are too ill-defined and too lofty. It is better to break your resolutions down into a specific to-do list. Here are the money moves to make now and in the coming weeks that will ensure you’re in a better financial place before 2013 ends.