SPRING-CLEAN YOUR FINANCES.
After a year of spending, saving, paying off bills and racking up rewards points, your financial life can get a little messy. Now that tax season is almost over, it is a great time to regain control of your finances. When you de-clutter your accounts, paperwork and budget, you’ll find it’s a lot easier to make the most of your money.
Roll up your sleeves, dust off your statements and follow these tips for finances that sparkle:
Streamline your banking: Close up old accounts, switch to online bill pay and sign up for e-statements to reduce paper waste. Shred year-old bank statements, expired warranties, old Social Security statements and tax documents more than seven years old.
Consolidate your debt: Consider rolling all of your high-interest payments into one low-rate personal loan. Close credit cards you don’t need and create a payment strategy to lower your debt. Plan to pay off credit cards with the highest interest rates first.
Organize your savings: Many households have multiple savings accounts, including IRAs, CDs and 401(k)s. Consider moving all your savings plans to one financial institution and consolidating all IRAs to one account. Talk to your employer about moving old 401(k) accounts into the one at your current job or rolling them to a self-directed IRA. Finally, increase your 401(k) savings so, at a minimum, you are saving enough to earn a full match from your employer.
Plan your estate: Update or create your will. It’s a fairly easy and inexpensive process people often put off for obvious reasons. If you have any property (car, house, land, flat-screen TV, etc.), a will prevents lengthy legal battles and guarantees the right people receive your belongings upon your passing.
Need help tidying up? Stop by your nearest Tendto branch or give us a call. We’d be more than happy to help you clean up your finances!
At Tendto, we tend to do everything we can to make your financial dreams come true.
Whether you're in the market for a new loan or savings account, or just need some financial advice, we're here for you. If there's anything we can do to help you achieve your financial goals, stop by and see us. We're always happy to talk things through.