Ball State senior Sarah Lobdell's wish for the New Year is to bring up her grades and get her finances back on track.

"I've got college expenses, car insurance and everything else. I work two jobs, and for a while I sold plasma for $50 a week to get some extra cash. I just moved in with my dad to save money," said Lobdell, 22. "My main goal is to get back on track so I can buy a house."

According to the U.S. Government Information Center, the 12 most popular New Year's resolutions --besides "get in shape" -- include "education," "finances," "travel" and "stress reduction."

Patrick Aikman, 70, Carmel, wants to learn to play the piano; and Westside resident Krystal Caston, 41, plans to return to college to get her social-work degree.

Carmel resident Shade Elhadik, 26, originally from Egypt, traveled through Europe, the Middle East and the United Kingdom before settling in Indiana. "I'd love to take a trip to Ireland. I've never been," said Elhadik, a software engineer.

Mary McDowell, 58, Indianapolis, would like to get her paperwork organized in the New Year.

"I'm a horrible organizer. The paper trail at home is overwhelming," said McDowell. "I think if I got better organized, I'd be better at finances."

We asked experts to offer tips to give you a jump-start on your goals for 2006. Here's what they had to say:

Education: Whether you want to learn a foreign language or become a master of your laptop, there are local classes available to help you improve your skills.

"January is one of the biggest times of year for classes," said Ron Lindle, associate director of continuing education at IUPUI. "People want to improve themselves . . . get out of the house and try something new." Lindle has seen an increase in the popularity of Spanish immersion classes, all types of computer classes and digital photography. Classes range from daylong workshops to weeklong courses.

Finances: Are you tired of agonizing over a checkbook that doesn't balance? "Don't spend more than you make, and pay off credit cards," are the suggestions of Paula Coffer, a retired U.S. Army finance officer, and chair of the International Business College Accounting Department.

"It's like being on a merry-go-round. If you want to get off, then stop it and put it in reverse," said Coffer, who teaches courses on personal finance and debt-free living. She suggests starting the New Year with a financial inventory -- what are your sources of income, and where are you spending your money?

"It's all about creating a plan. If you have six credit cards, you need to pay the minimum on five of them and pay off the one with the highest interest rate. That doesn't mean you shut down and stop dreaming and planning," said Coffer.

"People fail to achieve financial stability because they think they have to drop everything in order to become debt-free. You have to set aside money and pay yourself, too. Think of it like this, if you get out of debt, the stress goes away."

Travel: You've always dreamed of visiting a new destination, but you just can't decide where and when to go. "The most affordable and fun vacations right now are Caribbean cruises," said Kim Libertore, an independent travel agent in Southern Indiana.

Recent hurricane damage has put some resorts in Mexico on hold for the next five months, but other warm destinations such as Hawaii and Jamaica are still popular picks, she said. During low season (September-December), an all-inclusive, seven-day cruise could become a dream come true for about $600 per person.

Also on the increase is travel adventure, such as whale-watching, nature photography and hiking and biking tours, said Libertore. "I'd recommend reviewing brochures and Web sites, think about your interests, and then plan a budget," she said.

Stress reduction: A lot of stress stems from time management, said Michelle Miller, who teaches courses on business psychology. As the mother of a 20-year-old, Miller has learned to work from a "to-do" list that helps her track her accomplishments. She's also a business consultant and is working on her doctorate in applied management leadership and organizational change.

"No matter if your list is personal or professional, you have to anticipate what is coming your way. Flying by the seat of your pants is what causes stress," said Miller. "Stress causes people to be psychologically demotivated because they procrastinate."

In the business world, Miller sees more and more employees who are asked to rethink their skills and perform at a new level. "You have to find new strategies to get things done and maintain a balance between work and home," said Miller.

"That may be as simple as planning to buy groceries on your way home from work so you don't have to pick up the kids from daycare and take them with you. At work, you need to multitask and be flexible, while still working within a plan. Without a plan, you don't have a big picture of what needs to be done."