by
Andrea Woroch
If the thought of spring cleaning your home is overwhelming, why not turn that energy towards your financial situation and make sure everything is in order. With just a little time and effort, you can shape things up and enjoy some peace of mind. So scrub up your finances with these 11 tips.
1. Organize Bank AccountsStreamline your online statements and bill payments. Toss out old statements and checks, then consolidate your accounts at one or two institutions. If you've moved or found better service and rates at another bank, you might have left some cash behind in an old account. Close them out and move your money to where it will work for you, before bank fees throw you into overdraft status.
2. Review Investments and Retirement Planning
Update beneficiaries. Re-balance and consolidate accounts. Move old 401(k) accounts into one at your present place of employment or move them into a self-directed IRA through such mutual-fund companies as Fidelity or T. Rowe Price.
Update beneficiaries. Re-balance and consolidate accounts. Move old 401(k) accounts into one at your present place of employment or move them into a self-directed IRA through such mutual-fund companies as Fidelity or T. Rowe Price.
3. Clear Up Debt
Get over that holiday hangover by wiping Christmas debt off the books. Credit cards carry the highest interest rates, so they're the first debts you should tackle. Then, try to buy gifts throughout the year to avoid end-of-year purchasing binges, or commit to budgeting more effectively come November.
Get over that holiday hangover by wiping Christmas debt off the books. Credit cards carry the highest interest rates, so they're the first debts you should tackle. Then, try to buy gifts throughout the year to avoid end-of-year purchasing binges, or commit to budgeting more effectively come November.
4. Slash Your Spending
Once you're on track to reduce your debt, cultivate good spending habits to ensure you're not paying down debt again next year. Use coupons where you can, and buy gift cards at a discount from such sites as GiftCardGranny to save instantly on gifts and everyday purchases.
Once you're on track to reduce your debt, cultivate good spending habits to ensure you're not paying down debt again next year. Use coupons where you can, and buy gift cards at a discount from such sites as GiftCardGranny to save instantly on gifts and everyday purchases.
5. Adjust Tax Withholdings
If you're receiving a big tax refund this year, you're not withholding enough money from your monthly paycheck or quarterly payment. Don't let the government play with your cash all year; Make it work for you now. Use the IRS's 2012 Publication 15 as a guide.
If you're receiving a big tax refund this year, you're not withholding enough money from your monthly paycheck or quarterly payment. Don't let the government play with your cash all year; Make it work for you now. Use the IRS's 2012 Publication 15 as a guide.
6. Review Monthly Bills
Look for areas you can trim. You can save up to $50 per month by simply canceling your movie channels. It's a lot cheaper to download or stream films, and you'll have access to your favorites much faster. Or you might just read more books.
Look for areas you can trim. You can save up to $50 per month by simply canceling your movie channels. It's a lot cheaper to download or stream films, and you'll have access to your favorites much faster. Or you might just read more books.
7. Organize for 2012 Taxes
Instead of tossing all your receipts into one shoebox, set up a filing system to separate health-care forms, travel records, 401(k) contributions, etc.
Instead of tossing all your receipts into one shoebox, set up a filing system to separate health-care forms, travel records, 401(k) contributions, etc.
8. Meet With a Financial Expert
Get some professional help to go through your IRA, 401(k) and 529 College Savings Plans to understand where all your money is going and whether it's working for you. The Wall Street Journal offers some good advice on how to select a financial adviser.
Get some professional help to go through your IRA, 401(k) and 529 College Savings Plans to understand where all your money is going and whether it's working for you. The Wall Street Journal offers some good advice on how to select a financial adviser.
9. Review Your Budget
Even if your income hasn't changed, spring is a good time to look over your budget and see if it still works for you. Or, if you've put off creating a budget, now is the time to establish where you'll spend your money and how much you can sock away for the future. Kiplinger has an easy budget form to get your started.
Even if your income hasn't changed, spring is a good time to look over your budget and see if it still works for you. Or, if you've put off creating a budget, now is the time to establish where you'll spend your money and how much you can sock away for the future. Kiplinger has an easy budget form to get your started.
10. Address Estate Planning
Create or update your will or trust. Look into setting up a living will and power of attorney, should the unthinkable happen. Destroy old documents so there's no confusion when you're gone.
Create or update your will or trust. Look into setting up a living will and power of attorney, should the unthinkable happen. Destroy old documents so there's no confusion when you're gone.
11. Update Insurance Policies
Call around or surf the Net for new quotes on car, home and life insurance policies. Update the beneficiaries on your life insurance. Rates have gone down of late, so you may be paying much more than you should.
Call around or surf the Net for new quotes on car, home and life insurance policies. Update the beneficiaries on your life insurance. Rates have gone down of late, so you may be paying much more than you should.
Andrea Woroch is a nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert who helps consumers live on less without radically changing their lifestyles. From smart spending tips to personal finance advice, Andrea transforms everyday consumers into savvy shoppers. She has been featured among top news outlets such asGood Morning America, NBC's Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more. You can follow her on Twitter for daily savings advice and tips.
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