If you want to meet your goals, they need to be SMART.

SMART goals are:• Specific• Measurable• Attainable• Relevant• Time-bound"Keep it detailed, and keep it measurable," said Joshua Koch, a financial associate with Thrivent Financial in Lehighton.For example, don't aim to "lose weight" or "save money." Set a goal to lose 10 pounds in two months, or to deposit $100 per month in a savings account for one year. These goals are specific, measurable and time-bound.Know your limits and set realistic, attainable goals. If you have money left over each month, it might be realistic to save enough money to buy a new car within one year.But if you're living paycheck to paycheck and trying to pay down debt, your goal might be to trim your budget by $10 or $20 each week. Small steps can lead to big changes. In this case, just $20 saved each week would result in $1,040 at the end of one year.Finally, goals should matter. Whether you're working toward a healthier lifestyle or paying down debt, you'll find much more motivation if you truly care about the end result and if the goal is relevant to your lifestyle."Make sure that you can see results from your efforts. You want to be happy when you achieve that goal," said Koch.