What are three worthwhile goals to set for the new financial year, and can you share one of yours?

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It’s an immortal movie scene. Cuba Gooding Jr is on the phone, half-naked, dancing around his kitchen. The guy on the other end of the line is screaming.

Tom Cruise (Jerry Maguire) is prepared to say anything. “SHOW ME THE MONEY!” he shouts repeatedly. Jerry’s desperate. And he’s prepared to back up his words with actions.

Are you?

If you’re making “new financial year” resolutions, you’ve got to back it up, baby! Here’s three things Gen Xers should say, then do, this year.

First: Get a grip on your fears and start an investment plan. If you’ve never invested before, start small and add to it monthly. Asset prices (shares and property) are down. Those taking a long-term view – which share and property investors must – might never get a better starting point.

Second: Make the most of low interest rates. If you’ve got a home loan, pay extra into the redraw account. Set yourself an actual dollar target. Those “savings” can then act as both an emergency fund and a tax-free cash investment. If you don’t have a mortgage, see my first tip.

Third: Massage your super. Too many Xers are sitting in balanced funds. Do a risk profile (there’s one at www.debtman.com.au) and see if you should be a little more aggressive. And consider salary sacrificing even a few thousand dollars a year to compound over the next few decades.

And moi? I’m constantly working on the above, so this year needs to be about consolidating those strategies. And chilling … give up some money to spend more time with my kids. They’re priceless. And they’re growing too fast.

Bruce Brammall is the author of Debt Man Walking (www.debtman.com.au) and principal adviser with Castellan Financial Consulting.