In the US, the goal of Financial Literacy month is to heightened awareness about personal finance. Last year at this time, I shared a barrage of links on the topic of financial literacy.

The economic crisis has brought personal finance front and center, for Americans as well as others throughout the world, the ING Retirement Institute Research Institute found.

This year there was no shortage of articles. In fact, I did my part in writing about Financial Literacy and sharing some more links to some of my personal all-time favorite articles to help with financial literacy.

Whether you are American or Canadian, financial literacy is a good thing. Awareness, however, is not enough. True financial success comes from action. It’s all about developing good money habits.

The best idea is the implemented one

Anyone that has taken my workshops knows that I am passionate about action. If you always DO what you have always DONE, you will always GET what you always GOT.

Financial success is truly simple, just not easy. The things you need to do to be successful are not rocket science. You’ve heard these messages over and over again:

Spend less than you earn, live within your means, pay yourself first, pay down your debts, know your spending, track your worth, get your financial house organized, get a well done, etc.

The tough part of all this is that it can be tough to implement. Change is not easy. In order to change, you must not only be aware that change is needed, but you must have the motivation to start. And even then, it’s also tough to have the discipline to keep it going.

Just do it!

Nike said it best – Just do it! you are better to have done something and failed than to not have done anything at all.

So here’s the key: Knowledge is not enough, you must apply. Willing is not enough, you must do.

Develop an action plan by simply making a list of three actionable items that you want to do. Write them on a piece of paper in really big letters and put that paper up somewhere you look every single day. Maybe it’s the mirror in your bathroom or on a yellow sticker on your computer screen or on the dashboard of your car. It’s time to take control of your money by implementing all the great things you learned in financial literacy month!

Good luck!