New Delhi, Jan. 4 -- The start of the year is a good time to make a resolution to get your finances in order, but start by setting the right goals.

How you frame your resolutions is crucial to your likelihood of achieving them.

People "with approach-oriented goals were significantly more successful in sustaining their New Year's resolutions compared to those with avoidance-oriented goals," according to one study by a professor of psychology at Stockholm University, Sweden, and others. So, come up with goals about what you want to achieve rather than something you wish to avoid.

Think: I will build an emergency fund, rather than: I want to avoid a financial crunch.

Another key is to start with a small step.

"You can't just randomly, o...