Make a Payment Rates About Careers Contact Locations

Don't Forget To Add Finances To Your Spring Cleaning List

April 9, 2018 Spring is here-ish and it’s time to open the windows and tackle our springtime to-do lists. And as long as you’re on a roll, why not turn a little of that energy to your finances? After all, you just had to dig out all your paperwork to deal with your taxes. Instead of just shoving it back into the box or filing cabinet, why not give it a good spring cleaning too? You can do it! And we’ve got seven easy tips that can help.

1. Get a copy of your credit report.

Errors on your report could make it hard to get a loan or a credit card. You also want to make sure no one has opened accounts in your name. You can get one free annual report from each of the three credit bureaus (TransUnion, Experian and Equifax) by going to annualcreditreport.com. If you do find a mistake, notify the three credit bureaus and get it corrected.

2. Do a big picture financial review.

Now’s a good time to figure out if you need to make changes to get and/or stay on track. Good things to put on the list include saving for major goals (like a house, the kids’ college or retirement) and building an emergency fund (aim to cover all expenses for at least three months). Whatever your goal, we can help you make sure your money is doing the most it can with our higher-rate savings options – like our or .

3. Review your insurance policies.

Do some rate shopping but make sure you’re comparing apples to apples – there could be a reason one policy seems so much cheaper than another. And if you’ve changed or remodeled your home or property, make sure that’s reflected in your insurance coverage.

4. Consolidate retirement accounts.

If you’ve switched jobs and have a 401(k) from a previous employer, don’t just let it sit there – make sure it’s hard at work. The retirement goals you had when you set it up may have changed.

5. Go through your documents.

Sure, it’s tempting to save everything but most of us don’t have space for that. There are some documents you should keep forever and ever – birth/marriage/death certificates, divorce decrees, wills, Social Security cards and military discharge papers all fall into that category. For tax-related records the experts usually recommend seven years.* And if you have assets, whether it’s something like a stock or a piece of property, hold on to records for as long as you own it, plus three years.
You can scan and store receipts and records electronically—but if you go that route, make sure your records are thorough and back them up! Have documents to dispose of? Don’t just toss them in the trash: shred ‘em!

6. Update (and protect!) your passwords.

It’s a good idea to change your passwords at least once a year and to store them in a password-protected document.

7. Celebrate Money Smart Week (typically in April) with a new financial goal.

Now that your finances are all clean and tidy, give yourself a new financial challenge and make it happen with Summit’s . This online tool makes it easy to track your expenses and set goals. Check it out! That wasn’t so hard and now you can relax and enjoy spring knowing your finances are all cleaned up! * You might also be interested in Financial success isn’t how much money you have — it’s feeling good about what you’re doing with the money you have. Here are some tips on how to prioritize your debts and bills, negotiate with creditors and get your late payments back on solid ground. Even in these challenging times, there's  whole lot of good happening! At Summit, we've always believed financial success happens together and that's been truer than ever this past month. Here's what "together" has meant for our community. Navigating finances after college is hard, but you can take it one lesson at a time. Get tips for managing money and paying off student debt after graduation. Navigating finances after college is hard, but you can take it one lesson at a time. Get tips for managing money and paying off student debt after graduation. If you’re not sure if something is a scam, it’s ALWAYS better to act like it could be! Fraudsters are always coming up with creative new ways to steal from you and quick to take advantage of a crisis. Here are some of the most popular recent scams to watch for. With a little planning, you may be able to actually save a little money during the holidays. Check out these tips to keep costs down without missing out on the holiday fun. Some scams go right for your money; others try to get you to part with personal information – like account numbers, Social Security numbers, passwords, and personal identification numbers (PINs). Find out what you should look for and how to protect yourself. The holidays can be stressful & that’s why it’s important to prioritize your self-care. Use these tips to reduce stress without draining your bank account. Your home is your castle, your refuge and—let’s face it—a place where it can be very easy to sink a big chunk of money. Which is why you’re always on the lookout for “sweet spots”:  those home improvements that add comfort, safety or a little zing of style while you’re living in your house and will boost the asking price when it’s time to sell. And if you can find a way to save money on those improvements or cut home expenses at the same time, well that sweet spot just got a little sweeter! Featured Products Certificates Checking Accounts Home Equity Loans Home Loans Business Banking Certificates Checking Accounts Home Equity Loans Home Loans Business Banking Financial Education Upcoming Events Programs Tools & Calculators On-demand Webinars Podcasts Upcoming Events Programs Tools & Calculators On-demand Webinars Podcasts About Equity in Money™ About Summit Careers News Community Giving Equity in Money™ About Summit Careers News Community Giving Help & Support Contact Us Member Support Center Schedule an Appointment Find a Branch Contact Us Member Support Center Schedule an Appointment Find a Branch Please read the following before proceeding to: The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. NCUA Insurance Estimator Privacy, Security & Accessibility Rates, Fees, Terms & Disclosures Routing Number *  The Wisconsin's #1 Mortgage Lender designation is based on the number of loans in 2022, gathered from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data compiled annually by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The results of the data were obtained through the LEI: 254900NTAC4H10MGSU23 **  SBA Lender of the Year Award for Credit Unions as awarded by the Small Business Administration of Wisconsin in 2023. Copyright 2024 © Summit Credit Union. All rights reserved. If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call 608-243-5000 for assistance. Insured by NCUA