As we head into the end of 2015, many people are wondering just where the year has gone and taking a good hard look at their finances. Whether you have a family or you’re just getting started in a new career, you’re probably hoping to be money-smart next year (I know I sure am!) so here are some tips for saving money in 2016:

Set Realistic Goals

While most people are familiar with goal setting when it comes to their finances, the problem is that many people set unrealistic goals and when they fail to meet those targets they feel like there’s “no point” and give up.

The trick is to look at your budget and think about how much you could afford to set aside each week. There’s no point in setting goals which are impossible to meet- after all no one wants to be living on tins of spaghetti, but they can often get rid of Netflix without even noticing it’s gone.

Get the Family Involved

If you’re trying to save money for your children’s education, a vacation, or a house deposit, the kids may not understand why they can no longer have all of the things they want. Have a family meeting and teach them about saving. Getting them involved can be a great way to help them learn about financial responsibility, and you’ll be surprised by how much they want to help.

Consider having a yard sale and let the kids keep the money from the toys they sell. Get them piggy banks and ask them to write down what they want to buy with their savings. Kids can often also have interesting ideas about how the family can save money, and getting them involved will make it much easier to stick to your saving goals.

Be Smart With your Money

If you’ve been living overseas or simply need to make an international transfer, you may think the only way to complete it is by using your bank. But if you’re going to send money online it’s a much better idea to use International Currency Exchange which has far fewer fees- meaning you’ll end up with more money in your pocket.

Consider your Career

While looking at your finances, it’s a good time to look at your career as well, since the two go hand in hand. When was the last time you asked for a pay rise? If you’ve been in a position for a while you may find that you’re doing far more work than you were when you first started, and your employers may be taking advantage of your experience. This is the time to ask for a pay rise or even put your name forward for that new position or promotion.

If you’re not happy in your job, this is a great time to think about how you can change this in 2016. You’re more likely to save money if you’re feeling content and happy with everything else in your life.