1. "I will be smarter with money."

A recent article from Reuters reported that the most popular resolution for young Britons this year is to save money. If you're trying to do the same, there are sites all over the internet about how to invest wisely, what to invest in, and free tools like Expensr.com and Wesabe.com that will help you manage your money online.

If you're having trouble shaking your spending habits try one of two things: Manufacture a false sense of accomplishment by buying something that will eventually pay for itself and then sit back and watch money flow into your bank account in real-time. Or, for a genuine sense of satisfaction and 100% less consumption, visit Kiva.org and drop $25 dollars—this site lets you lend to entrepreneurs in developing countries after viewing their profiles and business plans. It also gives you the option of reinvesting the money when the lender pays it back.

2. "I will exercise more and eat better."

Going from couch potato to gym rat may seem like a daunting task, which is probably why "losing weight" and "getting in shape" have become annual declarations for many of us. Instead of promising yourself a huge lifestyle change come January, try fine-tuning your approach by adding a simple exercise to your daily routine or committing to going from zero to five km (instead of 60) over two months with this running plan. Here are 42 more tips to consider that will help keep you on track, including advice on how to turn exercise into a habit. Also, you can track your progress by recording your workouts online using one of Gyminee.com, Gimme20.com or FitDay.com—free services that let you plan and organize your training and nutrition goals online. Take tours of each site, and decide which interface you think will work best for your needs.

While you're trying to clean up your eating routine, be wary of 10 myths you may have learned along the way and put the Cook's Thesaurus to work the next time you prepare an old recipe—the site gives you suggestions for lower-fat or more accessible substitutions for some ingredients. Another good way to improve your eating habits is to educate your own students or children about nutrition with sites like NutritionExplorations.org and Kidnetic.com. Finally, measure your current diet according to health, environmental and animal welfare with this calculator from the Centre for Science in the Public Interest and revisit the site now and again to see if your score improves.

3. "I will go green."

Next to saving money and making lifestyle adjustments that promote health, "going green" is also high priority for many this January. This could mean anything from remembering to bring reusable shopping bags to the market, leaving cars at home or educating one's self about climate change beyond the Al Gore movie. A good place to start is by bookmarking sites like TreeHugger.com, WorldChanging.com, Grist.org, and GoodMagazine.com for the latest in environmental news. You can even "green" your guilty web pleasures by crossing the eco-surfing with celebrity gossip at Ecorazzi.com.

Another way the internet can help is by helping to curb mass production by buying handmade products from sites like Etsy.com or "previously-loved" wares from UpsideDive.com (Canadian!). Or learn to make your own pretty much anything with sites like Instructables.com and Make.

For more ideas, see this list of 100 ways to save the environment or register your information at Zerofootprint for specific tips on how to reduce your ecological footprint.

4. "I will revitalize my phraseology."

If you're already pretty much perfect, the least you can do in 2008 is to spice up your language. Refresh your vocabulary in the new year with 10 new buzzwords and the nominees for Merriam-Webster's word of the year. When you have a little more time, peruse* the list of 100 words every high school graduate should know and then double-check your guesses at Definr.com—the "incredibly fast dictionary". But before showing off any of this shiny new terminology in public, check this article on commonly misused words, and see if you spent enough time "perusing" the dictionary for the basics after all.

5. "I will embrace the future with optimism and wonder."

After you've committed to saving the world and your well-being, marvel at things promised to us in 2008. For instance, Esquire recently reported these six ideas will change the world and Trendwatching.com lists these consumer trends on the rise. This futuristic car will hit North America in 2008, as will these movies. And looking beyond 2008 are designers Irene Pereyra and Tom Klinkowstein who imagine the life of a designer in 2030 in this gigantic .pdf. Take note of your favourites above (and anything else on your mind) and confirm them with your future self via an email through FutureMe.org.