17 tips for improving your finances in 2017

Nobody needs to tell us we’re wasting our money. Really, we know if we tend to overspend, rack up fees or never pay off credit card bills.

So let’s not make ridiculous New Year’s resolutions such as “I will stop wasting money.” Sure you will; just like last year. The only way to get the job done in 2017 is to take very specific steps to tackle your challenges.

Here’s a list of New Year’s resolutions for 2017:

No. 1: Set aside cash for nonemergency emergencies.

“If you own a car, there are going to be repairs. If you own a home, there are going to be repairs,” said Katie Bossler, a financial wellness expert for GreenPath Financial Wellness in Detroit.

Her advice: Consider the bigger bills that can hit you in 2017 and start saving a set amount each month. If you have a $2,000 medical deductible each year, set aside $167 a month. Ditto for car repairs, home repairs and extra spending on children.

No. 2: Be willing to miss a big sale.

Could you unsubscribe from emails from retailers? I have one email account that I use when a retailer asks me for my email. One month recently I received more than 900 emails in that account. Seriously?

Bossler, who did unsub- sc ribe from promotional emails a year ago, said she knows she might miss out on some bargains. But it’s better to avoid temptations.

Review your credit card st atements for recurring charges — maybe the fee you pay for a monthly box of cosmetics — and cancel what you don’t value or use.

No. 3: Check another box on your 401(k) or put money in a Roth IRA.

Make a date to take action, such as signing up to have more money automatically taken out of your paycheck and put into your 401(k).

If your employer offers a 50 percent match for every