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1. Don't splurge with your tax refund. Save it, or use it to pay down debt instead.
   
   
2. Take full advantage of your employer's retirement contributions. If your employer offers a free match to your contributions, this is free money! It's a good idea to take it.
   
   
3. Start small and stay steady. Start as young as you can, with whatever you can, even if you are simply setting aside pocket change.
   
   
4. Pay yourself first. Choose the important over the urgent. Automatically deposit funds into your savings account right from your paycheck, before you can touch it.
   
   
5. Create separate savings funds for the milestones in your life. These include not only retirement and education, but also weddings, buying a home and more.
   
   
6. If you have children, find the right education plan. There are lots of different college savings plans. These may vary according to which state you live in. Compare plans and determine what makes the most sense for you and for your situation.
   
   
7. Most important of all...Work with someone you know and trust. Successful savings plans can't be mass-produced, and they can't be put on autopilot. Financial issues are complicated and risky -- It pays to work with a professional who knows what they're talking about, and who also knows you and will stay with you over the long haul and through the ups and downs of your household.

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