Declutter Your Finances: Your Guide to Spring Cleaning Your Financial Life
As winter gives way to spring, it brings with it a sense of renewal and the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. Just as you tidy up your home, why not take this time to organize your finances and prioritize your financial well-being?
In today’s article, I share six valuable tips I’ve gathered to help you streamline your finances and make financial planning more approachable. Together, let’s explore practical steps to declutter your financial picture and establish healthy financial habits.
Consider this your go-to guide for financial spring cleaning. Read on to get clear and organized!
1. Organize Your Paperwork
The first step to unraveling your finances is simplifying your paperwork. Even though we’re increasingly living in an exclusively digital world, there are still times we need actual physical documents.
Start your organization process by finding a single container where you can store your paperwork. It could be a binder, a locked filing cabinet, or a fireproof safe.
Now divide your paperwork into three piles: bills, statements, and old documents you can toss (i.e., shred!). Gather everything together and place it in a single, easily accessible place.
Organizing your paperwork not only helps you but also benefits anyone who may need to access your financial profile. To make it even more efficient, create a master directory (paper or digital) listing all your financial details. Make sure you keep this document password-protected or under lock and key, and don’t forget to include account numbers and logins.
2. Shred It
Shredding old paperwork is crucial for protecting your identity. Don’t just throw it away—shred it!
While you’re organizing your paperwork for storage (step #1), destroy any documents you no longer need: save bills until the payment has been received; keep seven years of tax documents; and hold on to one year of investment records (as long as you don’t require them for warranty or tax purposes).
Don’t forget to shred any documents you still have that are connected to a house or car you’ve sold. It’s time to move on. Since so much of our data is digitized and readily available online, we can stop carrying around stacks of paper records.
3. Go Green
Save a tree and clear up clutter at the same time!
Enroll in paperless document delivery for all your bills and financial services to reduce the amount of paper accumulating on your counters.
One of the better ways to keep track of all the usernames and passwords needed for online accounts is by using a password management tool. There are lots of choices these days and it’s a smart way to access all your account details in one place.
4. Automate Everything
In addition to simplifying and organizing your life, automating your savings and bills provides long-term advantages for financial planning. Setting up automated bill payments helps you prepare your income taxes, create a simpler budget, and potentially raise your credit score.
Here’s another advantage: by automating your savings, you’re giving yourself a chance to save before you even touch the money.
5. Confront Your Debt
One of the better steps to untangling your financial life is to pay off debt. Paying off debt is one of the fundamental cornerstones of sound financial planning.
When you’re paying 10–30% interest on credit cards or loans, you’re reducing the amount of money you have available to work toward your financial goals. Make it your mission to pay off as much debt as possible, save money on interest, and combine whatever accounts you can.
Start by paying off debt that has a higher interest rate than your other debts. Or, to gain confidence and momentum at the beginning of your debt-free crusade, pay off the loan with the smallest balance first, regardless of the interest rate.
6. Seek Professional Advice
Now that you have an organized version of your financial life, it’s time to take advantage of professional financial planning.
A financial advisor can help you find ways to optimize your finances and meet your goals. If you’re not already familiar with the benefits of financial planning, meet with an advisor to create a plan customized to align your financial goals with your available assets.
Get Organized Today!
Are you ready to enjoy the peace and ease that comes with a well-organized financial life?
At The Rosamond Financial Group, we have decades of experience in financial planning. Our mission is simple: to assist you in growing, managing, and safeguarding your wealth. With our dedicated team, we strive to simplify the complexities of your financial journey, allowing you to focus on what truly matters.
To connect with our firm, feel free to reach out to me and book a free introductory meeting online! See what clients are saying about working with us.
About Preston
Preston Rosamond is a financial advisor and the founder of The Rosamond Financial Group Wealth Management, LLC with over two decades of industry experience. He provides comprehensive wealth management and financial services to successful business owners, corporate executives, and affluent retirees who enjoy simplicity and seek a professional to help them pursue their goals. Preston personally serves his clients with an individual touch, a sincere heart, and his servant’s attitude is evident from the moment you meet him. Learn more about Preston or start the conversation about your finances with him by emailing solutions@rosamondfinancialgroup.com or schedule a call on his online calendar.