Well done! April 15th has come and gone, and you filed your taxes on time. Your refund is on the way and all your supporting paperwork is filed away neatly in your file cabinet. Now you can rest on your laurels until next April, right?

Wrong!

We’re a few months out from January 1st but now is your opportunity to resolve to make 2024 the Year of the Bona Fide Budgeter. With a few simple changes to your daily (or even monthly) routine, you can get a better idea of where you’re spending money, where you can cut back, how to save without feeling the pinch, and letting technology guide the way.

You can start by visiting https://create.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/budgets where you can download budget templates for free. Whether you’re budgeting for a big event (like a trip or a wedding) or you’re just trying to track family expenses, there’s a template for that! Just seeing your expenses laid out and displayed as a pie chart (that can show how much you’re spending on pie!) can be a reality check if you’re not used to monitoring your spending.

What else can you do to get your finances on track?

1. Set a budget and don’t cheat. When your “play” money for the month is gone, so is your playtime.
2. Talk to an advisor and start investing early. Look into micro investing if you don’t have much to spend. Check out apps like Acorns, where you can round up on purchases to save spare change, or Robinhood, where you can invest in the market starting with as little as $1.
3. Set financial goals (both realistic and aspirational) and track your progress.
4. Pay down debt. Generally, starting with the card with the highest interest rate makes the most sense but if you just need to see some movement, try tackling the one with the smallest balance. When that’s paid off, roll over whatever you were paying to your next card/loan.
5. Stay on top of your credit report and do everything to boost your score. Tie your bank account to FreeCreditReport.com so you’ll get credit (and points!) for paying your bills on time and keeping your debt low.

Most importantly, stay engaged all year long. Check your credit score regularly, put unexpected windfalls toward your debt or savings, and stick to your budget. Future You will thank you!