Spring clean your finances and take advantage of the extra energy this time of year to take control of your financial health. Now is the perfect time to check-in on your progress and adjust your strategy to get the results you really want! It’s time to get organized, close out tax season to-do’s, and check in with our goals for the year.
5 Financial Chores to Spring Clean Your Finances
Spring clean your finances with this checklist of financial chores to help you reach your goals!
File Your Taxes and Organize Records
The first financial chore to complete is filing your taxes and organizing your records. Filing taxes can feel daunting. But oftentimes the anxiety about completing your taxes is worse than actually filing your taxes. So if you’re having trouble getting this done, start by completing the smaller task of simply collecting all of your necessary documents such as W2’s and 1099’s.
Once you file your taxes it’s a good time to assess your tax strategy for the rest of the calendar year. If you owe more taxes than you expected, start creating a tax informed strategy to minimize your tax burden. If you receive a large refund consider adjusting your withholding so you receive more money in each paycheck. Use the IRS W4 Tax Withholding Calculator to review your selections and make any adjustments.
Finally, it’s important to organize your financial records in a safe and easily accessible place. A good rule of thumb is to keep the last 7 years of tax returns.
Check and Review Your Credit Report
The next step is checking all 3 of your credit reports from each of the credit bureaus – TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax.
You may check your credit score often. But reviewing your credit report is different from monitoring your credit score and should be done annually. This gives you the opportunity to ensure all of your information is accurate, and look for any errors or potential identity theft.
Save money and never pay to access your credit report. Use the government mandated website annualcreditreport.com to Check Your Credit Report for FREE!
Protect Your Digital ID – Freeze Your Credit
Freezing your credit can protect you from identity theft and unauthorized accounts being opened in your name.
A credit freeze prevents creditors from accessing your credit report without your authorization. Which keeps criminals from opening accounts in your name and safeguarding your financial information from unauthorized users. You may also consider a credit freeze for children and elderly family members, as they are at higher risk of identity theft.
At this point you’ve done all of the heavy lifting! You’re almost done spring cleaning your finances. But before you’re done it’s time to review your progress so you can determine what to do next.
Benchmark Financial Goals
Now that it’s Spring we’re almost through the 1st quarter of the year! That means it’s time to benchmark your financial goals. Benchmarking your goals is how you can measure your progress and determine if you are on track, especially if you set a SMART financial goal.
Additionally, you can make informed financial decisions in the months ahead based on your progress! This allows you to adjust your strategy so you stay (or get back) on track towards financial success.
Review Spending and Expenses
Lastly, take a deep dive into your spending habits and expenses. Analyze where your money is going and identify areas where you can make adjustments. This is the perfect opportunity to evaluate spending habits and determine if they are aligned with your values and financial goals. By taking the time to review your spending, you can ensure that your financial habits are in line with your top priority.
That’s it! Once you’ve completed these 5 financial chores you’re officially done spring cleaning your finances. By taking this project on you are more informed about your overall financial health and have identified a few ways you can improve.
Remember, managing your finances is an ongoing process that requires attention and dedication. If you find it challenging to stay accountable or need guidance in improving your financial health, consider working with us! Leverage our expertise and benefit from a personalized approach that will help you navigate financial challenges and achieve your goals.
MORE WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR FINANCES!
Check out the Cash Flow Freedom Framework – Break the paycheck to paycheck cycle and start paying off debt fast!
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This blog is based on an episode of the radmoney podcast on the same topic. Catch up on recent episodes of the radmoney finance podcast and make sure you never miss an episode by subscribing on Spotify – Apple or wherever you listen to podcasts!
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