2025 personal finance calendar

January

Build your financial foundation

• Set financial goals. Decide what you want to achieve with your money this year, in the next few years and further down the road. Consider writing your goals down, including why you want to reach each one. Post them somewhere you can see them to motivate and remind you.
• Create or review your budget. A budget is just a spending plan for how you use your money. Having one – and reviewing and updating it regularly – is key to reaching the goals you’ve set. Our budgeting tips and worksheet offer a quick way to begin.
• Start – or build—your emergency fund: You should aim to save enough to cover 3-6 months of expenses, but you can start by saving the first $1,000. Include this in your budget to build it over time. Consider setting up automatic transfers to a savings account to help you stick with it.

February

Optimize savings

• Start or increase your retirement plan contributions. Use My Income & Retirement Planner^SM to see your current chances of reaching your retirement goals and decide how much to contribute. Don’t forget you can take advantage of new IRS limits. Even a small increase can make a big difference. Pro tip: If you receive a raise or a bonus, put it to work by upping your savings.
• Review subscriptions and memberships. You may have monthly or annual subscription services you’ve forgotten about or don’t use. To find them, look for recurring charges on credit card or bank statements, search your email using terms like "subscription," "receipt" or "renewal" and check apps for active subscriptions. Cancel the ones you don’t want and put that money to work toward a savings goal.
• Make a plan to manage debt. Whether you have a lot of debt or leftover holiday expenses, paying it off can save you money on interest in the long run. Make a list of all the debt you have, including total balances, interest rates and minimum payments. Then focus on paying off one at a time, starting with the highest interest rates. Put the money from each debt you pay off toward others.

March

Strengthen financial security

• Check your beneficiaries. Keeping beneficiaries current on your retirement account and other financial accounts ensures the assets will go where you intend. It’s a good idea to review them once a year and when major life events occur, such as getting married or divorced or having a child or grandchild.
• Pull your credit reports. You can get a free credit report from each of the 3 credit-reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) every year. While they don’t contain your credit score, you can review them to identify and dispute errors which can help improve it. Request your credit reports at annualcreditreport.com.
• Consider your asset allocation. Asset allocation is how your investments are divided up among different categories such as stocks, bonds and cash. Talk with your financial planner and log in to your retirement account and other financial accounts to see how your money is invested. Frequent changes aren’t advised, but consider making adjustments if your goals, risk tolerance or time until retirement have changed. Pro tip: Talk with us or your financial planner before making moves.

April

Manage taxes

• File your taxes. Gather tax documents and consult with a tax advisor if you have questions. File or request an extension by the deadline of April 15. If you request an extension, you’ll need to pay the amount you owe by April 15 but will have until October 15 to file your return.
• Use tax refunds wisely. If you receive a refund, use it for your future benefit. You could pay it toward debt, add more cushion to your emergency fund or save it for a financial goal.
• If you’re retired, keep taxes top of mind when withdrawing your retirement savings. Your financial planner or tax advisor can help you decide how to take out money to minimize the amount you owe next year.

May

Plan for summer expenses

• Budget for vacation. Estimate potential costs for summer travel plans, including weekend trips. Account for the money you’ll need in your budget. Make cuts in other areas if needed or scale back your plans and enjoy a staycation by doing fun activities where you live.
• Take care of auto maintenance. Preventive maintenance now can help you avoid costly repairs later. Have a professional look over vehicles or inspect them yourself. Check brakes, batteries, air conditioning, belts, hoses, tire pressure and tread. Top off fluids. Replace wiper blades and air filters if needed.
• Do a home energy audit to help reduce utility bills. Many utility companies offer audits or can recommend professional auditors. You can also do one yourself. Key steps:
  • Review past utility bills to see patterns over time and find areas for improvement.
  • Look for drafts around windows, doors and other openings. Seal gaps with caulking or weatherstripping.
  • Check insulation in spaces like attics to be sure there are no gaps or missing sections.
  • Change the filters in heating and cooling systems and make sure ductwork is properly insulated.
  • Replace old lightbulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. You could also use timers or motion sensors.
  • Unplug appliances and electronic devices when not in use. Consider upgrading to energy-efficient models.
  • Set your water heater to 120°F to help prevent scalding and reduce energy use.

June

Do a mid-year financial check-up

• Get an annual review of your retirement account at no extra cost. Contact a plan representative to schedule one. We can review your investment options and asset allocation, help you consider consolidating accounts and answer any questions.
• Assess your progress. Congratulate yourself if you’re on track to reach your goals. But don’t worry if you aren’t. Instead, take control by adjusting your budget and identifying other steps you can take to make progress the rest of the year.
• Review your insurance. Get out your home, auto and other insurance policies to check the amounts you have and what is covered. Remove coverage you don’t need and shop around for the best deals on coverage you want to add.

July

Get organized

• Declutter financial paperwork. Shred documents or delete digital copies you’ve been hanging onto longer than necessary. That generally includes monthly bills and credit card and bank statements more than a year old (unless they’re needed for tax purposes). Also, you can generally get rid of tax returns older than 7 years.
• Put key information in one place. Gather important documents and write down crucial information your loved ones may need in an emergency. You can place them together in a binder or create a digital version. Keep it secure and tell someone you trust where it is and how to access it.
• Create a home inventory: Document your belongings for insurance purposes. Make a video that you narrate room by room or make a list using a spreadsheet, home inventory app or notebook. Organize items by room for easier tracking. Don’t forget to include receipts, warranties and appraisals.

August

Plan for education

• Take advantage of back-to-school sales and tax-free weekends. Retailers feature deals on things commonly needed for students going back to school or college. Some states offer dates they waive sales tax on certain items such as school supplies, clothing, footwear and electronics. Even if you don’t have a child or grandchild, you can use the discounts for yourself.
• Consider opening a college-savings account. Most states offer 529 plans where you can save and invest money for education expenses for children, grandchildren or yourself. Many plans have minimums as low as $25 to $50 to open an account.
• Have conversations about college finances. It’s important to talk with teenage children or grandchildren about how much you can contribute to their education beyond high school, if anything. This can help set realistic expectations and give them more time to plan and save.

September

Enhance long-term financial planning

• Create an estate plan. An estate plan is a set of documents that help protect you and your loved ones if you die or become incapacitated. You don’t need a large net worth to benefit from having one. To get started, think about what you own and who you want to receive assets, carry out your wishes, make decisions and take care of dependents. Use an online estate planning service or meet with an attorney to set up a plan.
• Consider taking advantage of a Health Savings Account (HSA). If you’re enrolled in a high-deductible health plan, you may be eligible to contribute to an HSA to save and invest for future health-care costs. If your employer doesn’t offer one, you can set one up outside of your employer. Consider reaching the minimum account balance needed to invest the money so it has a chance to grow. You might pay current medical expenses from your budget, rather than tapping into the account, so it stays invested for retirement.
• Review your Social Security statement. See what your projected retirement benefit may be if you claim Social Security at different ages. Keep in mind it could change as you continue to work and pay into the program. At present, Social Security is able to pay out full benefits through 2033. With no legislative changes, it would pay about 80% of benefits afterward.^1,2 View your statement at SSA.gov.

October

Focus on fall financial tasks

• Pay attention to your company’s open enrollment dates. Explore benefits, review your current choices and consider whether different options may be a better fit. If you have questions, reach out to your benefits or HR department. Submit your selections by your company’s deadline and take note of costs for the coming year.
• Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have a child who will be pursuing higher education next academic year, fill it out as soon as possible October 1 (the expected release date despite delays in recent years). The FAFSA is required for federal aid – but can also be required to receive college- and state-based aid such as scholarships.
• If you’re retired, watch for the Social Security Administration’s announcement about the cost-of-living adjustment for next year. The SSA bases the adjustment on inflation and announces it each October. Those with a mySocialSecurity account can view the notice online starting in early December.

November

Prepare for winter

• Set up a holiday budget. Check your budget and set a spending limit for gifts, travel and entertainment. Be sure to include expenses such as food and gas in addition to the more obvious.
• Get vehicles ready. To help avoid unexpected costs for towing and repairs, check tire pressure and tread, batteries, brakes and heating systems (including defrosters). Top off fluids, replace windshield wipers and lubricate door locks. Keep your gas tank at least half full to keep fuel lines from freezing and avoid running out of gas in delays. Also, pack emergency kits with tools, blankets, flashlights, food and water.
• Save on heating costs. Insulate your home, seal windows and doors, and consider using a programmable thermostat to reduce heating expenses.

December

Finalize year-end finances

• Take stock of 2025. Do a year-end review to see if you met your financial goals this year. If not, decide whether those goals still make sense or you want to create new ones as you look ahead to next year.
• Complete your charitable giving. If you plan to itemize your taxes, make tax-deductible donations before the end of the year. Or, if you don't itemize, add money to your holiday budget by selling items online.
• Take required minimum distributions (RMDs). If you’re 73, avoid tax penalties by withdrawing the minimum amounts required from each retirement account by Dec. 31. If you have an employer-sponsored retirement plan and work at least part-time for that employer, you can delay RMDs from that plan. However, you’ll still need to take them from other accounts, including IRAs.