PERSONAL FINANCE STARTER CHECKLIST
PersonalFinanceAnswers.com

MONTHLY MONEY BASICS
[ ] List monthly take-home income
[ ] List fixed monthly bills
[ ] Estimate variable essentials
[ ] Review subscriptions and recurring charges
[ ] Create or update a monthly spending plan

SAVING
[ ] Set an emergency-fund target
[ ] Create a separate savings goal
[ ] Schedule an automatic savings transfer if practical
[ ] Review progress once per month

CREDIT & DEBT
[ ] List all debts, balances, rates, and minimum payments
[ ] Make all minimum payments on time
[ ] Choose a debt-payoff strategy
[ ] Review credit reports periodically
[ ] Avoid taking on debt without understanding total cost

BANKING
[ ] Confirm checking and savings account fees
[ ] Review overdraft settings
[ ] Enable account alerts when available
[ ] Use strong, unique passwords and multifactor authentication

INVESTING & RETIREMENT
[ ] Identify long-term financial goals
[ ] Review employer retirement-plan options if available
[ ] Understand fees before choosing investments
[ ] Review beneficiaries where applicable
[ ] Revisit long-term allocations periodically

ANNUAL REVIEW
[ ] Update net worth
[ ] Review insurance coverage
[ ] Review major financial goals
[ ] Check for outdated subscriptions or services
[ ] Update important financial documents and beneficiaries

Educational use only. This checklist is not individualized financial, tax, legal, investment, or credit advice.