Spring cleaning is not just about tidying up your home or garden. It’s also a great time to take a closer look at your finances and give them a good clean-up. With tax season right around the corner, there’s no better time to get organized! Here are some tips for performing a spring cleaning on your finances.

Locate Important Documents

The first step in cleaning up your finances is to locate all of the important documents that you need to file your taxes. This includes your W-2 form, 1099s, receipts for tax-deductible expenses, and any other financial documents you’ve received throughout the year. Gather all of these documents in one place and make sure you have everything you need before you start preparing your tax return. If you’re missing anything, contact the appropriate organizations to obtain copies.

Once you have your financial records located, be sure to organize them in an easy-to-access and secure location for this year and future years. Finally, make sure you have backups of all of your digital records in case of a computer failure or other technical issue.

Need a tax document from Hills Bank? You can get in touch with us using the Chat Here button below or give us a call at 1-800-445-5725 (1-800-HILLSBK).

Create a Budget

Once you have all of your financial documents in order, it’s time to take a look at your budget. Creating a budget can help you identify areas where you can cut back on spending, which can help you save money in the long run. Start by listing all of your monthly expenses, including rent or mortgage payments, utilities, groceries, and transportation costs. Then, look for areas where you can reduce your spending, such as dining out or entertainment expenses.

One helpful budgeting tip is to set aside a specific amount of money each month for savings. This can help you build an emergency fund or save for larger expenses, such as a down payment on a home or a vacation. You can use the Goals tool in Hills Bank Online to save money automatically!

Read More: How to Start a Budget (And Stick to It)

Review Your Credit Report

Your credit report is an important part of your financial health, and it’s a good idea to review it periodically to make sure there are no errors or fraudulent activity. You are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies every year. Go to annualcreditreport.com to request your reports.

Once you have your credit reports, review them carefully for any errors or discrepancies. If you find any errors, contact the credit reporting agency you received the report from to dispute them. You can also take steps to improve your credit score by paying your bills on time, reducing your debt-to-income ratio, and keeping your credit card balances low.

Read More: What makes up your credit score?

Pay Off Debt

If you have debt, you could consider making a plan to start paying it off. Start with the debts with the highest interest rates, such as credit cards or personal loans. Once you’ve paid off those debts, move on to the next highest interest rate debt until you’ve paid off everything.

You can also consider consolidating your debt into a single loan with a lower interest rate. This can make it easier to manage your debt and reduce the amount of interest you pay over time. However, be sure to make sure you fully understand the terms of a loan before signing off on it to make sure it’s in your best interest to do so.

 

Spring is a great time to clean up your finances and get organized for the coming year. And if you’d like any help in tidying up your financial life, get in touch with us! Our bankers are here to help with any questions or requests you may have. You can visit any of our locations, give us a call at 1-800-445-5725 (1-800-HILLSBK), or chat with a banker using the button at the bottom of this page.