March

March Session 1: Complete a Spending and Savings Plan
You probably know it as a budget. If that’s you’re preferred nomenclature, by all means, go with that. But the b-word can feel restrictive, like being on a diet. Thinking of it as a “spending and savings plan” helps you keep the focus on using your money for the things that matter most to you.

Tip: Handed a budget worksheet, most people will fill out their expenses first and then dedicate whatever money is left over to their big-picture goals. Thinking of your goals as essential expenses instead and adjusting your other expenses around them can go a long way toward faster achievement of your aspirations.

March Session 2: Do My Taxes
If you plan on working with a tax pro this year, use this session to gather the information you’ll need to submit. Utilizing an online filing service instead can make sense if your situation is relatively straightforward. However, if you fill out your taxes on paper and make the calculations yourself, you’ll likely need to allow for more time.

If the results of your filing don’t come out as positively as you’d hoped, this is also an excellent time to review your withholding information for a better outcome next year.

Tip: If preparing for this year’s tax filing felt like chasing ants in the jungle, consider using part of your time in this session to create an organizational system for your important paperwork. Creating a centralized physical or digital location for all your important documents can make the tax process much less stressful.