After a long haul of putting money away, shopping with price in mind, and practicing the art of frugality, many experts are worried that consumer may be tired of sitting back and saving. As the new year rolls on and things seem to be leveling off in the more troubled industry, such as credit and housing, consumer spending may be on the rise once again.

Savings goals that families had set for themselves during the last year were the most committed attempts to control finances than the nation has seen in many years. The dedication to get serious about personal finances and reduce debt was a good thing for both families and the economy at large. But concern now is that those families feel they have gone without a lot of things in the last 12 months and may soon start falling back into old habits and not properly prepping for retirement. Financial experts say that consumers are feeling good about themselves when they look at the amount they managed to save. Instead of continuing on and building larger savings goals, many will be quick to spend the pile of cash recklessly.

Analysis of family finances are still important and the more frequently one reviews important information such as budget strategies, interest rates, and ratios of debt to income, the better off they will be to continue on their path to savings. As with the change in every new year, many resolutions will be made to stay financial secure and debt free but few will follow through by actually creating a reasonable and workable financial plan.

Personal finance advisors are still recommending the importance of automating a savings plan. The old adage of ‘what you don’t see, you don’t miss’ can dramatically increase savings. In addition to the automated savings deposits, those with a 401k can get back in shape by reviewing current contribution amounts and upping the amount for the new year also using automated deposits.

Debt elimination is still key for stabilizing finances. Those who are still carrying debts but have still managed to tuck away money may consider using the money for debt relief rather than luxury spending.

While it may feel as though the nation has found some relief from the recession and its impact on so many, the reality is security will only come from proper planning and the execution of a good financial plan. Despite the improvements in the economy recently, there is still no reason to abandon the hard work and good practices of personal finance we have adopted during tougher times. It’s easy to fall back into bad habits but also dangerous to your financial future.