Consumer Brief

NEW YORK (1/3/08)--A CNNMoney.com online poll of 5,000 individuals, conducted in November 2007, sought to pin down the top financial goals for 2008. The poll revealed that 33% of respondents resolve to pay down debt, 23% resolve to save for retirement, 11% resolve to build an emergency fund and 11% resolve to buy real estate. However, only one of three respondents feels confident about achieving the top financial resolution, and slightly more than half question whether they'll have the money to achieve their goal. If you want to increase your chances of keeping your New Year's resolution and reaching your financial goals, automate it. Set up an automatic transfer now--at the start of the year--from checking to savings, and then sit back and enjoy steady progress toward your 2008 financial goals and resolutions (Money January)...