In order to start setting up your financial plan, you need to start by thinking long-term. This may go as far as when you want to retire and how comfortable you want to be. If that is too intimidating right now, look at where you want to be in the next five or 10 years financially. Do you want to purchase a new home at that time? Do you want to have a different job? Are you going to start a family or send a child to college? Knowing the answers to these questions can help you determine the path you need to take to be able to achieve those dreams.