Spring Cleaning

< Back to magazine home

This article (PDF) | Current issue (PDF) | Archive

By Rebecca Lubecki ● Photo by Terry Brennan

After a long winter it’s time to declutter and get organized. Just as you clean your home, take a close look at your financial to-do list. Here are some tidy tips to get you started. 

1. Go Room by Room

Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of cleaning your entire house? The task will feel more manageable if you break it up and make small goals. Perhaps you tackle one room a day or one room a week.

2. Get Paperwork in Order

Organize receipts, bank statements and tax documents in a way that works for you. Make sure important documents are in a fireproof safe or safety deposit box. Shred documents you no longer need.

3. Declutter by Upcycling

Create a new use for possessions you no longer use. Turn a candle holder into a planter or cut old towels into cleaning rags.

4. Reach High and Low

Find hidden dirt in each room’s nooks and crannies. Dust corners, baseboards, shelves, picture frames, blinds, lamps and ceiling fans. Launder items like pillows, throw blankets and rugs.

5. Check Your Credit Report

Make sure your credit score is in good standing and that there are no errors on the report.

6. Dust off Your Budget

Revisit your saving and spending plan. Make adjustments that will keep you on track to meet your financial goals.

7. Make a Homemade Cleaner

Looking for a more natural cleaner? Mix and match your favorite mood-lifting, stress-busting essential oils to make a custom scent.