Spring Clean your Finances with 5 Easy Tips
We did it everyone. We bundled up, scraped off our cars, shoveled our driveways, and now spring is here! As we prepare for warmer weather and greener lawns, many people also prepare to spring clean. However, spring cleaning doesn’t have to only involve your living space. Spring is a great time to re-evaluate and clean your finances as well. Continue reading to discover 5 simple tips that could make your financial spring-cleaning easy and effective!
Re-evaluate your Financial Health
It’s very important to get into the habit of consistently evaluating your financial health so that you can stay on top of your overall financial direction. What have you been spending your money on in the last 12 months? Are there any unnecessary expenditures that you can reduce going forward? What methods have you been using to save, and have they worked well? Developing a habit of looking into your financial history could be one of your greatest assets for reaching your financial goals!
Get Rid of Those Old Documents
It’s finally time to stop hoarding some of those documents that you’ve been holding onto for a decade. Look through your stored files and shred everything that you no longer realistically need. You may also want to electronically back up some of the documents so that you can dispose of the physical copies. Organizing these items will make it easier to find everything that you do need and help you in the long-run. If you are able to, sign up for e-statements to save the hassle of receiving mail and physical organizing.
Opt Out
Take a good hard look at all the financial offers that you regularly receive in the mail. If you haven’t opened any of those credit card promotions cluttering your mailbox then it may be time to opt out. You can do so by contacting the respective company, calling the national credit bureau’s hotline at 1-888-5-OPTOUT (67-8688).
Request your Free Credit Report
Credit is incredibly important since it can impact your car/mortgage payments, credit card options, and even employment. We highly recommend that you stay on top of your credit report and keep a working knowledge of your score. You can receive a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major consumer reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Use the spring time to request a report, check for any errors, and set goals for increasing your score.
Look Into your Retirement
Saving for your retirement is just one of those things that is incredibly smart, but not always fun to do. Use this time to look over your retirement plans and make adjustments based on your current financial situation. Can you afford to put a little bit more money away for retirement this year so that you can enjoy that added stability later? Utilizing the tips we mentioned before will put you in the best position to make this important decision!
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