One thing that we may all have learnt during the past year is that it can be a very good idea to have a financial nest egg to fall back on in hard times. So why not start 2010 by setting yourself a New Years resolution to start saving to ensure that you are always prepared for the next minor, or major, cash crisis.

There are still a number of attractive ways to save whilst still having access to your money should the need arise. Perhaps the best known is by regular savings into an Individual Savings Account (or ISA). Since October, anyone over 50 can save up to £5,100 in cash and £5,100 in funds, stocks or shares or the whole amount into stocks or shares or funds. Lower limits apply for those below 50. From April 5th 2010 everyone will have these limits to save tax free. There are a number of regular saver ISA's with attractive rates and should you decide to invest in stocks and shares then any dividend or capital gain is free from tax.

But you don't have to invest in an ISA to enjoy good rates of interest. Many banks and building societies offer regular savings accounts where any amount up to around £300 per month can be invested to enjoy attractive rates of interest. Some may limit the ability to withdraw cash until the end of the year but they can be an attractive way to stash cash that you may not need for up to a year.

Of course there are many other ways to save. Putting odd change into a piggy bank can soon add up to a few pounds but why not add to your New Years resolutions by giving up a vice and saving the cash that you would have spent instead! Still a smoker? Well, at £5 per pack and 20 a day will net you £35 per week or almost £150 per month. With that, you can overpay your mortgage to reduce interest charges of clear off an expensive credit card balance.

If the cost of Christmas got a little too much then start saving for next year by putting some money away into an account that you cannot access until needed. Some supermarkets offer a pre-pay type facility where you can budget for a large food and drink spend at Christmas. There are still schemes where you can join a Christmas Savings Club to help budget for next year more easily.

If you want to help your children or grandchildren or relatives children be financially independent in the future then why not contribute to their Child Trust Fund account. Every child born since September 2002 has a government sponsored tax free savings account that family and friends can contribute to for the benefit of the child. Any money invested cannot be accessed until they are 18 and there is a limit of £1,200 per year that can be invested but it could be a welcome nest egg for any young adult when they reach 18.

With the general cost of living and taxes set to increase in 2010, there can never be a better time to make a resolution that will save you cash and where you can see the rewards for your effort grow.