Your 15-Minute End-of-Year Financial Check-In
The end of the year is the perfect time for a quick money check-in. You don’t need a complicated plan or a full weekend of spreadsheets. A few small checks now can save you stress and money in January.
Here are five simple things to do before December 31:
1) Do a quick money snapshot
Start by getting a clear picture of where you are right now.
Check your balances: checking, savings, and credit cards.
List your must-pay bills: rent/mortgage, utilities, minimum debt payments.
Flag anything urgent: past-due bills, overdraft risk, upcoming large expenses.
This takes 10 minutes and instantly reduces the “unknown” feeling.
2) Make one small budget win
Don’t overhaul your whole budget. Just find one easy improvement.
Cancel or pause one subscription you don’t use.
Trim one category by $25–$50 (takeout, shopping, random extras).
Set a simple spending limit for January so you start the year strong.
Small wins are easier to keep—and they add up.
3) Boost your safety net
If you don’t have much in savings, you’re not alone. The goal is progress, not perfection.
Set an automatic transfer (even $10/week counts).
Aim for a starter emergency fund of $500–$1,000.
If you already have that, keep building toward 1–3 months of essentials.
Savings grows faster when it’s automatic.
4) Lock in retirement basics
This is one of the highest-impact checks you can make.
Confirm you’re getting the full employer match if you have a workplace plan.
If you can, increase your contribution by 1%.
A tiny bump now can make a big difference over time.
5) Prep for January (tax + admin)
Make “future you” happy by doing a quick cleanup now.
Download year-end summaries from your bank and credit cards.
Save donation receipts and other important paperwork.
Check your beneficiaries on retirement and life insurance accounts.
This doesn’t take long, but it makes the new year smoother.
Finish strong
If you only do three things, make them these: check your cash, get the employer match, and set an automatic savings transfer. That’s a solid way to close out 2025 and start 2026 with momentum.
