The weather finally is getting warmer, the clocks have sprung forward, and it’s time for some spring cleaning! I enjoy cleaning out my closet as much as the next gal, but let’s get serious. Spring is a time for cleaning up everything, including those pesky personal finance tasks that you’ve been putting off.
Here are a couple of things you might want to consider getting done to complete your spring cleaning:
- Finish your taxes. If you didn’t do it yet, do it soon because the deadline is April 15. Be sure to use a tax professional to help you get the most deductions possible.
- Get a handle on your debt. Start organizing bills and stop putting them aside. Figure out how much you owe everyone, figure out what debt has the highest interest rate, and focus on paying down that debt first.
- Clean out your closet and donate the clothes you haven’t worn in 24 months. Did I mention that charitable donations are tax-deductible?
- Shop around for insurance. Have you been using the same company for 5 years without comparing rates? You might be able to reduce insurance rates by comparison shopping.
- Cancel subscriptions that you don’t use. Have you been receiving a magazine you don’t care for anymore? Are you still subscribing to xBox live even though you don’t use it? Cancel the subscriptions and stop paying for service you don’t use.
- Compare shop for cable/internet. Some companies offer a deal if you “bundle” cable/internet and commit to a year or two long contract. If you are feeling really adventurous, cancel cable completely and try using Hulu/Netflix.
- Check on your cell phone usage. Is there a new plan available that can better suit your needs? If you cell phone plan expires soon, ask yourself if you really need that fancy new smartphone. Odds are, you don’t.
