Organized chaos is a thing- but it’s not the best status for your finances. Rather than embracing the “junk drawer” mentality for your bills, insurance policies, investments, and budget, it’s time to get legitimately organized.
You don’t have to be excited about it, but you should… after all, organizing your finances will probably help you spend less, save more, and drop stress you don’t even realize you’re carrying.
So where should you begin to take control of your finances? These proven methods to get organized will help you manage each element of your financial past, present, and future. Whether it’s the mutual fund you haven’t checked in a few years or the stack of collections you’re diligently ignoring, it’s time to get your finances in line!
1. Get Your Credit Scores in Order with a Free Boost
Having a low credit score can impact a lot in your life, like the ability to rent an apartment, get a car, and even a cellphone plan.
That’s why it’s important to maintain positive credit card payment history and to keep credit utilization ratio in check (not using more than 30% of your credit line on any credit card).
Regardless of what your score is currently at though, everyone can use a boost to their 3 digit number, and Experian® wants to help.
A new feature called Experian Boost™ can help instantly improve your credit scores for free.
Experian does this by adding your positive payment history from utility and telecom bills to your Experian credit file. This is huge, because previously, your gas, water, electricity, TV, internet, and phone bills that you already pay for didn’t affect your credit. Now it does and to your benefit of potentially increasing your credit scores!
It’s simple to start, and all you need is a free Experian Boost membership and a few minutes to connect read-only permission to the online bank accounts you use to pay bills. Experian will check only utility and telecom payments and get you credit for the payments you’ve already been paying.
This process doesn’t hurt your credit at all and you can choose to remove the boost if you want.
Compared to expensive and drawn out credit repair services, this new alternative is the fastest and no-cost way to instantly improve your credit scores.
*Results may vary, see website for details.
2. Get Your Budgeting In Order Even if You Don’t Know How
First things first, if you have trouble budgeting, you’re not alone as most people actually don’t know how to.
Truebill (iOS or Android) easily helps you budget, even if you’re clueless. Their simple to follow budgeting pulls your historical spending, organizes it, and allows you to clearly see your spending so you can set a target budget with context. (Aka you can see where you’re wasting money on).
Truebill’s five-star reviews come from people formerly bad at budgeting. Nicole M. said Truebill “tracks spending and makes you accountable for every place your dollar is going. Shows you how a ‘few bucks’ here and there can really add up over time. Also gives you clues on how to save based on your spending. It’s like having a personal accountant tracking my money.”
Truebill (iOS or Android) will also alert you if you’re getting a little too spend-happy in your budgeted categories so you know when to curb it. Another user, Krystyna D. said, “This app is a lifesaver for budgeting. It lists your transactions in a minimalist and customizable way, has a spending graph that compares your current spending based on last month, and has a really great budgeting feature. I’ve been using the app for just about 7 months and they’ve done nothing but make a really great improvement to the service. I’ve tried some of the other services and they’re all cluttered and give you too much info without making what you want to see accessible.”
It’s simple but actionable budgeting that anyone can follow and it’s free to use! Join the many users today and control your spending with Truebill!
3. Get Your Savings in Order by Automating It (Up to $1,720/Year)
If you’re part of the 80% of Americans that have some sort of savings but could use a little more help, you’re definitely not alone. The key to saving is automation.
You won’t even notice it but Digit will make it happen.
Just link a checking account and their smart algorithm will determine small but safe amounts to withdraw into your separate FDIC-Insured Digit savings account.
Regular savers will get a 1% bonus every three months, netting you some free money!
It’s the perfect set-it-and-forget-it app where the AI will watch your savings back.
You can withdraw your money at any time you need and it’s free to use for the first 30 days. After, it’s just $5 a month. Check out our interview with Linnea who saved $30,000 using the app!
Average savings in a month (varies): $144 or more
What it could add up to in a year: $1,728 or more
Quarterly bonus: 1% on your total savings amount
Additional Referral Earnings: $5 per referral
4. Another Way to Get Your Savings in Order – Make it Fun!
Saving money isn’t usually associated with the word fun, but this app gets it.
Go ahead and download Long Game Savings (iOS or Android) a savings app that turns saving into a game.
Just play 1 game a day, and you could win cash daily.
Yes, it’s safe. Your money is FDIC-insured up to $250,000 and you can withdraw money at any time.
After setting up your savings account, you’ll be able to play quick games like Spin to Win, Flip Cards, Slot Machines, and more for chances to win money to increase your savings. Eons better than 0.01% interest rate.
It’s like you’re getting paid to save (iOS or Android) and it only takes less than a minute of your day to play. And there’s no judgment on playing too many games this new year.
5. Get Your Investments in Order Even if You’re Not Rich
If you feel a little clueless whenever there’s talk about investment portfolios, you’re not alone. It can sound overly complicated.
However, there’s an app that’s like an easy gateway to investing.
It’s called Stash, an investment app that only takes $5 to start and you’ll also get a $5 bonus after funding your first investment!
They curate from over 250 investments which include stocks and Exchange Traded Funds. You’ll get to choose where to put your money based on things like your personal beliefs, interests, and goals.
Finally, investing is no longer for the elite 1% with Stash helping to make it so easy for the rest of us.
6. Get Your 401(K) Retirement Plan In Order
Planning for retirement. It’s a life task that everyone knows they need to do, but it gets brushed aside.
However, let’s say you set aside $1,000 a year from age 25 – age 64 in a retirement account that earns 5% a year* (just a conservative rate, for example, it can be more), that’s a total of $39,000 that you’ll invest. By the time you turn 65, you’ll have $126,840. But if you don’t get started until age 35, you’d only have $69,760. So starting just 10 years earlier would have doubled your total!
It doesn’t have to be complicated though. Just use a robo-adviser called Blooom, an SEC-registered investment advisory firm that optimizes your 401(k) and keeps it gunning toward retirement.
Take a few minutes and get an initial checkup analysis on your 401(k) for free.
Afterward, if you sign up, it’s just $10 per month to have Blooom maximize your 401(k) account. A small fee to pay compared to expensive advisors who would essentially be doing the same thing for $100-$300 an hour.
7. Get Your Grocery / Food Budget in Order (Cash Back $240 a Year)
Did you know that it’s 325% more expensive to eat out versus eating at home*? Maybe it’s time to make more trips to the grocery store instead.
You’ll be aware of all the ingredients in your meal, in addition, you’ll get paid just for shopping!
It’s simple. All you have to do is take a picture of your grocery receipt and Ibotta (iOS or Android) will pay you cash.
Here’s how it works:
Before you go to the store, search for your shopping list items in the Ibotta app. After your store visit, take a photo of your receipt to get cash back.
Ibotta is free to download (iOS or Android) and you’ll also get up to $20 in Welcome Bonuses when you sign up!
Some offers we found:
- 25 cents back on any item
- $3 – $5 back on various wine
- $2 back on KIND Protein Bars
- 25 cents – $4 back on ice cream
- $2 back on Herbal Essence Haircare
Popular stores are Walmart and Target, but Ibotta (iOS or Android) also works at restaurants, online shopping sites, and at the bar! On average, active Ibotta users save up to $240 a year or more. What would you do with that extra money?
Welcome Bonus: Up to $20
Average savings a month: $20
What it could add up to in a year: $240
Additional Referral Earnings: $5 per referral
8. Another Way to Get Your Grocery Budget in Order – Keep the Receipts for Free Money!
Before you crumple up that receipt in your pocket or forever lose it in the abyss of your purse, scan it into the Fetch Rewards app (iOS or Android), and earn points towards free money. I repeat, free money.
It’s ridiculously simple and actually fun to use.
Shop at any grocery store, convenience store, club store, neighborhood store, or big box store, take a picture with the app, and that’s it. (Favorites include Target, Kroger, and Walmart!)
Unlike other apps, you don’t have to go to specific stores, there’s nothing to pre-select prior to shopping, and there’s no minimum spend. Just scan in any receipt (iOS or Android) from a store that sells groceries (even when you didn’t actually buy any groceries) and boom, points for money.
You can start cashing out as soon as $3 (3,000 points) and you can grab a $2 welcome bonus on us (2,000 points) when you use promo code REWARD before scanning your first receipt!
Welcome bonus: $2
Average savings a month (depends on purchases): $25
What it could add up to in a year: $302
Additional referral earnings: $2 per referral
9. Get Your Shopping Methods in Order (And Get Free Gift Cards Out of It)
If you have room for 1 more app on your phone, then it needs to be this.
Actually, delete another app to make room for this one. It’s that good.
It’s called Drop (iOS or Android), a free app that gives you gift cards on stuff you already buy from your favorite stores and brands.
Your everyday purchases from Amazon, Trader Joe’s, and Walmart? You’ll get points for that. Points translate to gift cards so the more you collect, the more you can redeem!
The only thing you need to do is link any credit or debit card you usually use for buying stuff and that’s it! Drop (iOS or Android) will automatically recognize when you buy from your activated offers to reward.
There’s literally no downside to using this free app to get more gift cards. Use it on top of your loyalty points and credit card points for even more rewards!
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Use promo code SMARTWALLET to unlock 5,000 points ($5) automatically when you link your first card on Drop!
10. Another Way to Get Your Shopping Methods in Order (Up to 40% Off & Free $10)
Saving money and getting cash back on purchases always sounds like a great idea – until you completely forget to take the steps to get the savings. There are SO many ways to save money while shopping, who can remember if it’s not automatic?
Rakuten (previously called Ebates) on iOS or Android can help you get cash back on everyday shopping as well as apparel, beauty, and more, automatically. With Rakuten, you don’t even have to upload your receipts after your purchases. They’ll send you simple push notifications when your favorite stores increase their cash back deals or have a good sale.
Offering simple one-tap savings with no points or fees helps ensure that you get the most out of your purchases. So, before buying anything, hop into the app (iOS or Android) to see if you can get up to 40% cash back at over 2,500 stores.
They also have an amazing referral program where you can earn $25 for each eligible friend. New members get a $10 bonus too!
11. Get Those Overdrafts and Hidden Bank Fees in Order
Overdraft fees. Oh, the dreaded overdraft fee. Everyone has encountered this at least once (I’m guilty of this too). Sometimes your bank account is low and you forget about your upcoming Spotify auto-payment. Next thing you know, you’re in the negatives and the bank is emailing you that you’ve been charged a fee. After that, you’re SOL.
There are also monthly maintenance fees ($10-$12 per month) and out of network ATM fees ($2.75 per transaction), both of which can add up over time. With those fees and overdraft fees of $35, you could be spending up to $329 a year (*) on hidden fees alone!
Skip all the bank fees and download Chime, a mobile banking app with absolutely no hidden fees (yes, seriously).
With no monthly fees, no minimum balance requirement, no overdraft fees, and no foreign transaction fees Chime makes it easy to switch over. It’s also FDIC insured up to $250,000 and allows members to get direct deposit paychecks up to two days earlier than their coworkers. Chime processes your employer’s deposit immediately, giving you access quicker than traditional banks.
No hidden fees and potentially earlier payday. Chime is free to use, so why not give it a shot for a while and see how you like it?
12. Get Auto Insurance Premiums in Order
You’re sharing the same roads with a lot of different people. Distracted people, oblivious people, road-rage people, etc. It’s best to cover yourself with insurance when everyone is operating a giant motor vehicle.
That’s why car insurance exists and is mandatory. You might be overpaying on your current insurance premium since it can be a hassle finding another provider.
However, you can search for quotes easily on EverQuote. They help match you among dozens of regional agencies and insurance carriers to filter the best matches to save on your car insurance.
It takes about 4 minutes to fill out the form and you’ll see a list of matches that show potential online quotes, email, and potential phone quotes.
EverQuote can save drivers $610 a year on average* compared to their current insurance premiums. Once you see your list of potential matches, choose the online ones you want or wait for more information via email or phone.
It’s a pretty simple process, so try it out to see how much you could be saving on the road!
13. Know What’s Going On Around You – 1M People Start Their Day with This Newsletter
While in college and preparing for the business world, Alex Lieberman and Austin Rief realized their classmates all felt the same way: traditional business news was dry, dense and boring. Their fellow millennials wanted to keep up with what was happening but didn’t have a news source that spoke to them.
That’s why they started Morning Brew – the free daily email that delivers the latest news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. Written in a conversational tone and sprinkled with punchy humor, it makes reading the news actually enjoyable.
From Elon Musk’s latest move to the stock market’s highs and lows, Morning Brew covers the top news shaping the business world. With a touch of culture and lifestyle stories, you’ll get up-to-speed on what you need to know in just five minutes.
Find out why over 1 million people start their day with Morning Brew — sign up for free here.
14. Get Your Credit Card Debt in Order (And Get Lower Rates)
Credit card debt can be crushing if not held in check, especially if the APRs are crazy high. Why pay back even more interest when you can potentially get a lower rate via debt consolidation instead?
Debt consolidation may sound complicated but it just means you’re borrowing money at a low-interest rate and using that money to pay off the outstanding balances from your high-interest credit card. Over time, you’ll save money by not having to pay the higher APR.
Keep things simple by using Credible, as they’ll help you find prequalified personal loan rates from multiple lenders in just minutes. It’s free to use, has zero fees, and checking rates has no impact on your credit score.
Just fill out one simple form and compare your options.
Since Credible’s lending partners offer broad options, just choose the one that fits your needs!
15. Get Your Life Insurance in Order (For as Little as $8/Month)
When you hear “life insurance” the first 2 things that might come to mind are death and finances. Ultimately it’s “I love you” money to your family after you’ve passed away.
So for most people, life insurance is logical but the long process could be deterring. Some life insurance companies can take up to 2.5 months for the approval process to complete, including lots of paperwork and a comprehensive medical exam which may not always be necessary.
But one company is trying to change all that. Bestow’s (iOS or Android) mission is to offer affordable term life insurance in under 5 minutes without you having to talk to anyone. No exam needed either.
You can get up to $1 million in coverage and they offer 2 years, 10 years and 20 years term options.
All of Bestow’s policies are underwritten by North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, who’s been around for over 100 years and holds an A+ (Superior) rating with A.M. Best, a global credit rating agency for insurance companies.
In plain English terms, it means your policy is backed by dependable insurance giants who have been serving customers for many years.
So if you’re between the ages of 21-55, here’s what they’ll ask:
- Your basic information (Name, Email, Address, SSN etc)
- Some Life questions (medical history, hobbies, lifestyle)
- Beneficiaries (who would receive the money after insured’s death)
- Policy and payment details (If approved, you choose the monthly payment and enter credit card info)
Each policy has a “free look” period (usually 30 days) which means you can cancel if it’s not right for you and get a full refund.
And you can easily change your policy at any time based on life events like marriage, job loss, divorce etc.
Life insurance talk isn’t fun but Bestow is attempting to make it as easy as possible for people to get covered quickly. Go ahead and see what your rates (iOS or Android) are in just under 5 minutes. It’s the biggest “I love you” you can give to your loved ones.
Bonus: Get Your Bills in Order
Go ahead and hang up the phone. Escape the hours of on hold music.
If you hate dealing with service provider representatives, Trim, a financial AI assistant, will handle it all for you to negotiate down your monthly bills.
You can sign up for free and all you need to do is upload a PDF of your recent bill, which you can get from your online statement. The process only takes a couple of minutes and Trim will get to work in grabbing any savings back for you.
It also non-judgmentally informs you of your spending via text or Facebook messages which help to keep an eye on your budget.
It’s easy to use – just link a credit card or bank account to the 256-bit SSL encrypted secure app and Trim will work hard to monitor your internet to get you compensation if it dies and find you savings through your bills. Their newest feature also helps you save for emergency funds, vacation, and more!
*Bestow is currently not available in New York
*Investment advisory services offered by Stash Investments LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This material has been distributed for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice. Investing involves risk.
*325% more expensive eating out vs home source: Investment Zen
*EverQuote’s individual savings, if any, and premiums will vary by customer. Savings amount based on countrywide survey of users from Nov 2018 to Apr 2019 who reported old and new premiums.
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