Last year, Prudential, the 135 year old American life insurance company, conducted an in-depth study on women and finances. The findings showed that women have been impacted more by the economic downturn than men and that women lack confidence about achieving their retirement goals. The study also showed that despite it all, women remain positive about the future economic outlook and are likely to work with financial advisors – when the price is right.

As a certified financial advisor, I can relate. I hear from many women that before working with me, they did not have a financial plan because they believed that working with an advisor was not affordable. If you have avoided working with an advisor due to cost, I encourage you to make your own financial plan. It’s easier than you think. Here are 5 tips to get you started on your financial plan.

1. Identify What’s Important to You

Some people say that they don’t know where to start when it comes to their finances. My answer is that it depends on what’s important to you. Each of us is different. If you want to create a financial plan, chances are there is something specific that you would like to improve in your financial life. Can’t think of anything? Try this. What makes you cringe when you think about finances? What’s your pain point when it comes to money? What are you proud of when it comes to managing your finances? What are you embarrassed to tell anyone about your finances? When you identify what’s important to you, it becomes the foundation of your financial plan.

2. Keep It Simple

If you’ve never had a financial plan before, managing your own can be overwhelming. The remedy for this is to keep it simple. Focus on one to three items that you want to improve and then chisel down.

3. Write Your Goals Down & Post

The study shows that women under the age of 35 tend to have well-defined goals for their financial future in comparison to Gen X women. This is great. If you have already defined your goals in your head, then write them down. There’s something about committing thoughts to paper that makes us more accountable. To go one step further, place your financial goals somewhere you can see them on a daily basis. If you’re like me, the front of the coffee machine or refrigerator is a perfect place!

4. Get Specific

A goal like, “I want to contribute more to my retirement” is good but “I would like to contribute $300 per month to my employer’s retirement account” is even better. Once you get specific with your goals, you have more accountability, plus it gives you a tangible benchmark with which you can measure your success. When goals are not specific, it is hard to know if you’re on the right track.

5. Know Thyself

When your accountability partner is you, undoubtedly you’ll be subject to the challenges that anyone faces when attempting a big feat on their own.  My suggestion is to understand what your weaknesses and challenges are. For example, when your goal is to contribute $300 to your retirement account each month, but you have a habit of spending your extra money on shoes, you should put a plan in place to counteract your bad habits.  No one, not even a financial planner, is going to understand your historical money habits, temptations, and challenges more than you.

Creating a financial plan is not easy. Half of the work is the plan itself and the other half is having the tenacity, willpower, mental strength, and knowledge of your financial habits to get through it.  Now that you have identified your simple and specific financial goals, written them down, and uncovered your strengths and weaknesses, you should have a perfect beginner’s financial plan in place. Do you have a self-made financial plan? How is it working for you? Need help getting started? What are your tips for sticking to a financial plan? Let me know in the comments!

Miranda Reiter is a certified financial planner and founder of She & Money Financial Planning. She helps women develop a game plan for financial success so that they can stop feeling broke, meet their goals, and live the life they truly deserve. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, or Google +.