Learning to improve your finances can be intimidating. Our money behaviors are often developed at a young age and reinforced through our experiences as we mature into adults. As a result, it can be exceedingly difficult to change these habits when the going gets tough. But with the right tools and methods, you can improve your personal finances so you have more money to focus on the issues that matter most to you.

Learning to improve your finances doesn’t have to be scary — you’ve got this!

1. Make a budget.

Creating a budget is a great way to keep yourself accountable for how you spend your money. It will force you to make tough choices about where your money is going and help you prioritize how much you spend on certain things versus others. If you’re not sure what your expenses look like, try tracking them for a month or two to get a better idea of where your money goes. Trying to create a budget without knowing what you’re spending first can make it pretty difficult.

2. Save for the things you want.

Once you have your budget in place, start thinking about what you might want to do with any extra money that comes in each month. Something as simple as an extra $100 per month can make a big difference over time — $100 invested at 5% interest annually will grow into more than $2,000 in just 10 years! If even that seems like too much of a stretch, try saving just a little bit more than you normally do each month until it becomes easier and more natural to save more.

3. Pay off high-interest debt first.

If there’s one area of personal finance that most people know, it is debt. Try to pay off your high interest debt as fast as you can, so you have money to invest in the future.

4. Spending within your means

This is one of the most important habits you can develop if you want to improve your personal finances. The key is to create a budget that works for you and then make it a priority to stick to it. The easiest way to do this is to pay yourself first. This simply means that once you receive your paycheck, set aside a portion of it before you spend any of it on anything else—including bills, groceries and entertainment. This self-imposed discipline will force you to prioritize your spending and give you more control over your finances in the long run.

Improving your finances doesn’t have to be hard. By creating a simple monthly budget, finding and prioritizing your spending categories, and developing effective money saving strategies, you can be on your way towards financial success. These four principles are easy to follow, but they won’t happen overnight. You may want quick results, but it takes time to change bad habits and create positive behaviors. Enjoy the journey, not just the destination and you will succeed.