Twelve easy to-dos (and a few bonus reminders) can help you create a list of in-reach financial accomplishments for the coming year.
Quick takeaways
A few tasks—from boosting savings to organizing paperwork—added to your calendar throughout the year can help make a real difference in making and meeting your financial plans and goals.
Here's a
January: Set your financial goal(s).
To do: Establish two financial goals that are doable, either for the whole year or each month. (One could be: Start an emergency fund with $100. Another could be: Pay off one credit card by year’s end.)
To pay: Make 2025 fourth quarter estimated tax payments by January 15 if you’re self-employed or underpaying based on your income.
February: Organize your tax documents.
To do: Gather W-2s, interest and dividend statements, and other tax documents as soon as you receive them (usually the first week of the month).
Bonus:
March: Plan for any refunds.
To do: Select a date in March to allocate tax refunds, bonuses, or pay increases you might get.
Medicare reminder: For Medicare enrollees, March 31 is the last day to apply for Parts A and B for coverage beginning in July.
April: Pay your taxes.
To do: File your individual tax return by April 15. Use
Bonus: April 15 is the last day to make 2025 IRA contributions. Could you contribute more to reap tax benefits? Log in to your account and see.
May: Manage your debt.
To do: Use this month to figure out your debt load. Detail how much you owe—then calculate your debt-to-income ratio, including all your monthly debt payments. Aim for that ratio to be 36% or less.
To save: Have any big-ticket events or activities in the coming months, like summer vacations or weddings? Plan accordingly by reviewing and adjusting your budget.
June: Prep for college bills.
To do: June 30 is the final date to file a
To pay: Make second quarter estimated tax payments by June 15 if you’re self-employed or underpaying based on your income.
July: Boost your budget IQ.
To do: Midyear is a great time to review your budget. Are you hitting spending and saving targets, and if not, how can you adjust before year’s end?
Bonus: Can you fit in extra contributions to an employer-sponsored retirement account—401(k) or 401(b)—or an individual retirement account?
August: Check in on your credit score.
To do: Set a calendar reminder to review your credit score using one of the three free credit check services: Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion. Then, learn what goes into a credit score and how you can improve yours.
To pay: Streamline your financial to-dos by setting up auto pay on at least one bill.
September: Review your benefits.
To do: Enrollment period for employer benefits typically starts in the fall and lasts four to six weeks. Set a reminder to review your health election, 401(k) or 403(b), and other employee benefits such as life and disability insurance.
To pay: Make third quarter estimated tax payments by September 15 if you’re self-employed or underpaying based on your income.
October: Get ahead on college costs.
To do: Review your options for saving for college—for you, your kids, or perhaps grandkids or relatives. A 529 account, for example, may have state tax benefits, while a Roth IRA can be used for qualified education expenses.
To pay: Did you file for an extension on your taxes? If so, October 15 is your deadline.
November: Add to emergency funds.
To do: The goal of an emergency fund is three to six months of expenses, which can seem overwhelming. The trick? Starting a little at a time—even $25 a month—and automating it. If you have emergency savings, can you add to them?
Health insurance reminder: November 1 is the opening day of the
December: Plan for next year’s health costs.
To do: Enroll or change plans for 2027 federal health coverage by December 15.
To take: The government requires retirees older than 73 to take required minimum distribution (RMDs) annually from retirement accounts by December 31 or the following April 1 for their first RMD, depending on when you turn 73.
What’s next?
Monthly, doable goals are great to build a financial foundation. One you can do at any time? Log in to principal.com to check your savings rate. Don’t have an employer-sponsored retirement account or want to save even more? We can help you set up your retirement savings with an individual retirement account (IRA).
