Spring is a Great Time to Cleanup Your Financial House

Financial Spring Clean PDF

Most people spend more time cleaning out their garage every spring than they do reviewing their finances all year. If you’ve only checked your balance on your phone lately, this is your sign—it’s time for a financial spring clean.

So where should people start?
Start by simplifying. The goal is to declutter your financial life. If you have accounts you haven’t logged into in a year, ask yourself why you still have them. The fewer logins you have, the easier your money is to manage. I also recommend picking one weekend and going fully paperless—statements, bills, everything. Not only does it reduce clutter, it makes it easier to stay organized and spot issues faster.

Can people save money as part of this cleanup?
Absolutely—and this is where the fastest wins usually are. Look at recurring expenses: subscriptions, insurance premiums, and credit card interest. People are often still paying for streaming services they forgot about, or auto insurance policies they set up years ago before moving or changing jobs. And if you’re carrying credit card balances at 18 to 25 percent interest, that’s a big red flag worth addressing this spring.

What about protecting your finances?
This is huge right now. First, update your passwords—and consider using a password manager so you don’t reuse the same ones everywhere. Turn on multi‑factor authentication and account alerts if your bank or credit union offers them. I like to say it this way: if your bank offers alerts or multi‑factor authentication and you’re not using them, you’re leaving the door unlocked. And if you haven’t frozen your credit yet, that’s one of the simplest ways to protect yourself from fraud.

Is there one thing people tend to avoid the most?
Definitely—estate planning. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. Estate planning isn’t about wealth—it’s about clarity. Think of it as a simple three‑item checklist:

• Do you have a will?
• Do you have powers of attorney and medical directives?
• And have you reviewed your beneficiaries?

One important reminder—your beneficiary form overrides your will, so it’s worth checking every spring.

Final tip: Log into every financial account you have and make a simple list—what it is, what it costs, and whether it still fits your life today. That one step alone can bring a lot more clarity and peace of mind.