The following blog was originally published in My Bank Tracker.

Now that the year is coming to an end, it’s a perfect time to sit down and go over your budget. A good budget review gives you a chance to go over your 2014 financial results so you can see how close you came towards meeting your annual goals. It’s also an opportunity to prepare for 2015 and make next  year even better. To get the most out of your end of the year budget review, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Collect and review your budget information

Before you can analyze your budget, you need to gather your 2014 financial information first. If you were really organized this year, you’ll have kept track of all of your spending throughout the year. Most of us aren’t that organized, but it’s OK. It’s pretty easy to look up your big monthly expenses like your rent/mortgage, your car and insurance payments, your cell phone bill, and your utilities. If you’re already using a budgeting tool like Mint, you can easily track your expenses.

For expenses that change every week, like groceries and entertainment, try to estimate how much you spent on average each week so you can gauge the total amount of money that went to these categories. Once you have all this information in front of you, you can see where your money went throughout the year.

Set defined goals for improvement

To give yourself the best chance to improve your finances in 2015, make your future goals as clear and specific as possible. Let’s say you didn’t save enough for retirement. Instead of setting a vague goal like “save more for next year,” break that goal into short, specific goals. Make sure to give each goal a time frame and a set dollar amount so you know exactly what you need to be doing for your plan.

For example, you could aim to put aside an extra $25 every week that will go towards your retirement savings. This way you’ll be taking action right away to improve your situation and can see quickly whether you’re falling short because you’ll know when you miss a weekly payment.

Account for life changes in 2015

As you’re figuring out your goals for 2015, be sure to account for any major life changes that are coming up. Maybe you’re starting a new job, getting married, having a child, or moving. Any one of these changes will have a big impact on your overall budget and you need to figure out how your spending will change to make up for any potential new expenses. For example, having a baby is going to take up a large part of your budget so you’ll definitely need to find more ways to save so you can keep up with these new expenses while also managing your long-term goals.

Changes can also help you reach your financial goals as well. If you think you’ll get promoted or receive a raise next year, start anticipating how you’ll use this extra money productively. Without a plan, it’s easy for this extra income to slip through your fingers. You might even be able to make this positive change happen yourself. If you’ve been doing a great job at work and everything’s going well, try asking for a raise at the end of the year.

Consider using online budgeting software

Going through a budget review without good records can be a frustrating experience. Fortunately, technology is making it easier than ever to track your budget and your financial goals. There are a few online programs where you can update your budget information each month and the program will help you plan for the future. Mint is one that you can use, and it’s completely free. YouNeedaBudget.com is another option. You can demo the program for a month for free, but after it costs $60 to set up.

Both programs let you update info like your monthly bills, your salary, and your expenses. You can analyze your spending and see how much money you have left over. Mint and YNAB also give you suggestions for how you can better achieve your financial goals. If 2014 was a struggle, budget-wise, using an online tool might be your solution for keeping better track of your money.

A solid budget is the foundation of any financial plan. By using these year-end budget planning strategies, you’ll put yourself in a great position to improve your finances and have a successful 2015.

About the author: MyBankTracker is your one stop destination for banking and financial news and is one of the strongest financial communities on the web. We are dedicated to bringing the most up to date and relevant banking information to consumers.  You can also Compare daily bank reviews and top banking rates.