10-Minute Check

The 10-Minute Financial Check-In

5 Things to Review Before the End of the Year

January gets a lot of attention when it comes to financial goals. We make resolutions, create budgets, and promise ourselves that this will be the year we finally get organized. But there’s no reason to wait until another January to take stock of your finances.

As the year moves into its final months, a simple financial check-in can help you see what’s working, what has changed, and where you might want to make an adjustment. You don’t need a complicated spreadsheet or a complete financial overhaul. Start with a few basics.

1. Review Your Savings

Think back to the beginning of the year. Did you have a savings goal? Maybe you wanted to build an emergency fund, save for a vacation, prepare for a large purchase or simply put a little more money aside.

Now is a good time to see how you’re doing.

If you’ve fallen behind, don’t be discouraged by the number. Instead, consider what you can realistically accomplish during the remaining months of the year. Setting up an automatic transfer—even a relatively small one—can help make saving part of your regular routine.

And if you’ve already reached your goal? That’s a good reason to set a new one.

2. Check In On Recurring Expenses

Streaming services. Apps. Gym memberships. Cloud storage. Meal services. Subscription boxes. Automatic renewals can make life convenient, but they can also become expenses we stop noticing.

Review recent account activity and make a list of your recurring charges. Ask yourself a simple question about each one: Do I still use this enough to justify what I’m paying?

You may also discover that the price of a service has increased since you originally signed up.

Canceling even a few unnecessary expenses could free up money for savings, debt repayment or something you actually enjoy.

3. Review Upcoming Expenses

Some expenses aren’t surprises—we just don’t always prepare for them.

The final months of the year can bring holiday shopping, travel, family gatherings, school activities, home maintenance, and other seasonal costs. Look ahead and estimate what you expect to spend.

Then break that number into smaller amounts.

If you expect to need $600 several months from now, for example, setting aside a portion from each paycheck may feel much more manageable than trying to find the entire $600 when the expense arrives.

Planning ahead doesn’t eliminate expenses, but it can make them less disruptive.

4. Review Your Accounts

Your financial needs can change over time, even when your accounts don’t.

Review your checking and savings accounts and consider how you’re actually using them today. Are you taking advantage of the digital tools available to you? Is your contact information current? Have you reviewed recent transactions? Are you keeping more money than necessary in one account while another financial goal goes unfunded?

This is also a good opportunity to review your beneficiaries, automatic transfers and recurring payments where applicable.

Banking should make managing your money easier. If something isn’t working for you anymore, it may be time to ask what other options are available.

5. Pick One Goal for the Rest of the Year

You don’t need five new financial goals. Pick one.

Maybe you want to add $500 to your emergency savings. Perhaps you want to reduce a credit card balance, save ahead for holiday spending or start setting aside money for a larger goal next year.

Make it specific enough that you’ll know when you’ve accomplished it, and then determine what you need to do each week or each payday to get there.

Small, consistent actions can be easier to maintain than dramatic changes—and they still move you forward.

Ten Minutes Today Can Make a Difference Tomorrow

A financial check-in isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s about knowing where you stand and making intentional decisions about what comes next.

At Artisans’ Bank, we believe banking should feel personal. Whether you’re building your savings, managing everyday expenses, planning for a major purchase, or simply trying to make your money work a little harder, we’re here to help.

Take a few minutes to check in with your finances today. Your future self may be glad you did.