It's that time of the year again, when people make time-honored resolutions to spend less and save more money.

They start with good intentions, but come the end of December, many are right back where they started, loaded down with debt and with far too little money in the bank.

This year, in the toughest economic times in decades, it's perhaps more important than ever to find good resolutions that stick. But how do you do that?

One way is to make your goals more specific and to try to have a little fun in the quest of embracing a more frugal lifestyle.

To help, The Tribune has collected a handful of New Year's resolutions targeting some of the key issues that consistently undermine people's ability to save money. Strategies are provided by members of the newspaper's Money Matters panel, a group dedicated to penny-pinching that is consulted from time to time to offer readers advice.

Resolution No. 1 » My family and I will eat dinner out only once (twice at the most) per week.

One of the biggest money-eaters for many Utah families is eating out, debt counselors say. Doing so a couple of times a week -- while adding in trips to Starbucks, lunches out of the office and lunches out for the kids -- and you could easily spend $400 dollars a month. That's a car payment. Or a nice contribution to a savings account.

But make a resolution to "eat out less" and you're destined to fail. Just ask Money Matters panelist Erin Mylroie.

Even for this award-winning St. George cook, it's too easy to grab dinner out, especially when family and friends come through town. "You can get into the trap of eating out really easily," she said. But Mylroie has done the calculations -- and cooking a meal at home is nearly always one-third the cost of eating out, even when you add extra guests to the table.

This year, she and her family have set a goal to eat out only once per week. It's a specific enough goal, but it will be difficult to achieve at times.

Her strategy? She will endeavor to cook more of the entrees she and other family members typically order in restaurants. She tried this in the past, and reports that it has been fun and helped her family resist the siren call of their favorite restaurants.

"Experiment and try cooking your favorites at home, like waffles, sausage pizza, burgers, and even oven french fries," she said.

Even if you have to buy some cooking equipment, such as a waffle maker, you still probably come out ahead. And for those who say they simply can't cook? Take a class or ask someone to teach you.

As for the fun part, Mylroie enlists the family in trying to duplicate a favorite restaurant entree (some recipes are found online). Experimentation can even lead to a tasty new dish or family favorite. Let family members pick what will be cooked for dinner.

Another tip: Cook extra food so you can freeze portions for additional meals.

Resolution No. 2 » I will stop paying full price for stuff and start shopping year-round for bargains.

Money Matters panelist Karin Kunz of Hyde Park saves thousands of dollars a year by shopping a different way.

Like many penny-pinchers, Kunz stockpiles food when it goes on sale. But she also does the same for other items, as well.

Rather than being under pressure to pay full price for a wedding, birthday or holiday gift at the last minute, Kunz has a nice stash of gifts, most of which were purchased for as much as 90 percent off. She's always on the lookout for gifts and shops year-round to maintain her stash, which some call a gift closet.

These days, Kunz is buying toys at discounts as deep as 75 percent or more. "It's a good time to buy because retailers are trying to entice you with great deals."

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Checking garage sales and thrift shops throughout the year is another good source for bargains.

And don't be afraid to plan -- and buy -- ahead for birthdays, Christmas, whatever. The key is to buy carefully, she said. Gifts of widespread appeal are great bets, for instance classic toys such as Legos for kids.

Kunz periodically reviews her stash of gifts. Any extras, such as toys, can be donated to Toys for Tots around Christmas.

To have fun, make saving money a family challenge, and consider creating individual and family rewards with the extra money you save by buying on sale.

Resolution No. 3 » I will force myself to save by having money automatically transferred each month from my checking account to a savings account.

Let's face it, putting money aside can be tough. That's why making automatic contributions to a 401(k) -- especially when they are matched by your employer -- is widely encouraged by financial experts.

Another good move is to set up an automatic transfer each month of a specific amount of money to a savings account.

"I think the problem a lot of people run into is they say something like, 'I'm going to save more money this year,' or 'I'm going to pay down debt,' " said Jennifer Rohn, a Money Matters panelist who works for the debt counseling firm AAA Fair Credit Foundation. "It really needs to be a specific goal, such as, 'I'm going to save this much money each month,' or 'I'm going to pay this much down in debt.' "

The trick to saving, she said, is to make it easy. "If you're someone who has a hard time remembering to save, anything you can do to make it easier, you should take advantage of."

If you don't have much in the way of savings now, experts recommend you start with an "emergency" fund designed to help you avoid financial hardship in the event of a job loss or unexpected bill.

Once you have some cash reserves set aside, it's time to think about saving for longer-term goals, such as retirement.

To make it fun, try to put a little aside each month for some type of larger family reward, such as a short trip or something everyone might enjoy.

Resolution No. 4 » I will find a savings buddy (or two).

It's difficult to meet any goal if your family or friends aren't on board. Let others know what you're trying to accomplish.

Trying to avoid eating lunch out each day during the workweek? Find someone interested in brown bagging it with you -- someone who might even help plan lunches. Does overspending during the holidays become a financial nightmare each year? Talk to your family now about budget-minded alternatives to traditional holiday celebrations and gift giving.

Even better is joining forces with others interested in saving money.

"I believe that those who try to go it alone this coming economic year will struggle big time and have the hardest time trying to survive financially," said Sheryl McGlochlin, a Money Matters panelist from Holladay. "Bottom line, no matter what financial goals people want to achieve, I can promise they won't be successful without a support group -- which only has to (be) one other person."

Last May, McGlochlin organized a group of people trying to cut their food bills. "We all worked together from May through October growing a community garden and picking a lot of produce that was given to us by people who were tired of their fruit trees or overwhelmed by their own vegetable gardens," she said.

The group of 20 still keeps in contact, sharing other money-saving strategies.

Resolution No. 5 » I will stop whining about trying to save money and I will get in the groove of finding ways to enjoy the good things in life for less.

Money Matters panelist Mary Young and her husband love to travel. Rather than blow all their money on one trip, though, their frugal ways enable them to go on several trips a year.

Even when on the road, there are ways to save, Young said.

When possible, they buy some of their food at supermarkets as they travel. They also eat smaller meals and share entrees and appetizers. They use www.homeexchange.com to help stretch their travel dollars and "swap" homes with other retirees around the world.

Young said she's heard saving is "just no fun" but argues that nothing could further from the truth.

For Young, being frugal isn't about doing without -- it's about doing more with the same amount of money. And that, she said, couldn't be more fun.

lesley@sltrib.com