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How To Triage Your Finances Now To Save Money and Get Organized
Eliminate unnecessary charges, get fees waived, and find the best discounts with this action plan
Sometimes I looked at my expenses and felt a sort of disorganization anxiety — I knew there were inefficiencies, but I didn’t know where to begin. It seems like addressing one issue creates a domino effect, and before I know it, I’m down the rabbit hole of online chats and tiresome hold music while I wait to speak with a representative.
They’re counting on you losing steam. Don’t.
Triaging your finances is a lot like Marie Kondo’ing your belongings (or Swedish Death Cleaning — have you heard of it?) When was the last time you shopped your car insurance rates? How many subscriptions are you auto paying? If you’re not sure, it’s time to triage.
I stuffed this article with the ideas that worked. Break them into a one-per-day schedule, or do what I did and devote a day, apply insane focus, and get it all done. Whatever you decide, I hope these suggestions lead to big money savings for you. They did for me.
(Note: I have no affiliation with any of the companies or products listed in this story. These are my personal experiences.)
This Is How To Start
Allow several hours (or days, depending on your work style) and choose a weekday during business hours. I started at 7 a.m. and finished after 4 p.m. and ended up saving close to $5,000. That’s about $550/hour.
I won’t sugarcoat it: this is an arduous process. It helps to have your account numbers and passwords handy (if you can’t find them, use your bank statement to remind yourself who you pay every month and work backward), then make a list of who you’re contacting and why.
You will become frustrated, bored, angry, and exasperated, and everything will take 30 minutes longer than it should. You’ll be placed on hold, and someone will disconnect you. You will have to tell your story several times. They’re counting on you losing steam. Don’t.
