It's that time when making money resolutions for the new year is staring at us.

The news about the economy is encouraging, but that shouldn't slow down any thoughts about making money resolutions for this new year. One good sign the recession is tapering off and economic recovery is under way is temp hiring. When businesses feel positive, they dip their toe in the hiring new employees water with temps. If the toe dipping happens for several months in a row, the economy is moving forward and that's happening now. But good news will not translate into broad economic well being for us. No, for most of us, we'll need to continue tightening the belt. Yes, it is time to make New Year money resolutions.

Before we head down that path, understanding that the post recessionary world will be different is important. Job security will be more fragile. Wages and benefits will be subdued. Housing values will not rebound quickly. Credit availability will be more difficult to secure. And yet certain costs will continue to rise. The average American will be paying more for their health insurance. The cost of sending our children to schools will continue to be enormous and the cost of retirement will continue to grow. Making solid money resolutions for this New Year makes more sense than ever. The Frugal Yankee has identified 10 resolutions that may help.

TRACK YOUR SPENDING
Use a computer or a simple notebook, but take a weekly, maybe even a daily, assessment of where the money is going. Knowing where it goes will make it easier to stop unnecessary spending, and thus...

LOWER YOUR DEBT
Only buy essential items and pay cash. Studies have shown paying cash hinders profligate spending by as much as 25%. Whittle away at it. Every little bit helps.

CREATE BUDGETS
After looking at where the money is going, it becomes so much easier to start creating strong budgets for those items outside the mandatory. Put it down on paper and then review frequently.

MANAGE YOUR CREDIT
We were sold a bunch of hooey. We were sold unrealistic dreams. IN today's world, the world of easy credit is gone. Now is the time to rein in credit use and look at ways to maintain what you have. Lowering the balances will lower interest rates. This could result in significant annual savings. Use credit only for special occasions, not for everyday life.

INCREASE YOUR CREDIT SCORE
While managing credit is essential, learning the new playing field for increasing your credit score is another essential resolution. In the New Year, more and more service providers like insurance companies will analyze credit scores to set rates for car insurance, home insurance and more - the better the score, the better the rate.

HOME REMODELING
No home is perfect and all buildings need updating. Before jumping into any improvement, study the issue. No improvement will get you the money invested unless it is fundamental change. For example, weatherization will save energy costs and will return a decent return if you sell. There is also tax credit considerations. Other improvements will never be a good return on investment. Keep the remodeling focused at core issues and you'll be better off.

NEGOTIATE
In the post recession economy, the concept of negotiating will dominate. It doesn't have to be loud or obnoxious, but simply asking "can you do better" or "I think I'll check out your competition" will have the desired effect. Businesses know the consumer will be holding those purse strings tightly. To loosen them they'll have to sweeten the pot. This puts you in the driver's seat.

SAVVY SHOPPING
Like negotiating, basic shopping has changed. Businesses know that consumers/customers will be demanding more for any transaction. They may not negotiate, but they will walk away if the deal is not to their liking. The simple pay for it as is no longer works. Buying an appliance? Ask for free extended warranties. Use the internet to find the baseline and work from there. There are new tools, like the internet, which offers comparison pricing and competition. Use them

SAVE
if all things are equal, following the above advice should yield more disposable income. Put a healthy percentage of that into savings. This is the hedge against the vicissitudes of the global economies or it can be used to upgrade the house without tapping into credit. Having a solid nest egg is a very smart idea.

RETIREMENT
Now is the time to examine where your retirement stands. No longer will anyone be able to rely on pensions. Retirement will be increasingly one's own responsibility. Look into the future and make adjustments accordingly.

The New Year brings a plethora of resolutions. This year, in 2010, looking at out money is more important than it has been in decades. When you make your resolves for 2010, resolve to stabilize and improve your money situation. It will pay off in the short term and the long term.