Last updated on May 12, 2025.

Your closets aren’t the only thing that needs some love this spring. In just four weeks, you can tackle your tangled finances and build better money habits. Use this four-week guide to refresh your finances. 

Just like organizing your physical space, tidying up your financial life can bring a sense of clarity and control. You can reduce stress, save money, and set yourself up for the future.  

The thing is, it’s easy to say you’ll clean up your finances but hard to know exactly what to do. It’s also easy to lose motivation after the first milestone. That’s why we’ve broken down the steps on how to spring clean your finances in four easy weeks.  

So, roll up your sleeves and get ready to tidy up your accounts! It’s time to declutter your finances.  

Week one: Clear the clutter and organize the rest.

Out with the old and the expensive. In with the fiscally-organized.  Your task for week one is simple: Declutter. Start by getting rid of expenses that don’t spark joy.  

• ​​​Review your bank statements for recurring charges or unnecessary spending. Get rid of what you don’t use, love, or need. Be honest with yourself. There’s no shame in admitting that gym membership you signed up for on January 1 just isn’t working for you.  

• Unsubscribe from retail emails that tempt you to spend. 

• Organize your digital wallet. Delete expired cards and consolidate accounts. 

• Go through your streaming services. Are all your subscriptions well-used? Try picking one to subscribe to. You can always rotate in the others.  

• Gather and organize your financial documents (bills, receipts, tax documents) in individual folders. 

• Make note of any rewards programs you’re in. Take advantage of accumulated rewards, such as flight points, Visa points, or gift cards, to stretch your budget further. Bonus points if you can redeem for cash!  

Week two: Take a look under the hood and fine-tune your finances.

Now that you’ve cleared out your financial clutter, it’s time to review your existing finances and revisit the areas that aren’t serving you. This week, you’ll make your money match your life. 

By the end of week two, you’ll have a clear plan that helps you manage your money and achieve your financial goals. 

Your week two checklist:

• Revisit your budget or create a new one. Does it reflect current priorities? Has it been working for you? Do you need to consider a new tactic?  

• Within your budget, are your expenses categorized? Needs, Wants, Savings, and Debts are popular ways of organizing budgets.  

• Identify areas for cuts. Look for non-essential expenses that you can reduce or eliminate to free up more money for savings or debt repayment. 

• Check your credit report. Review your credit report for any errors at least once a year. Use the Government of Canada’s free credit report request form from Equifax and TransUnion. Want to improve your score? Learn how to build your credit score with practical steps you can start today. 

• Review your bank statements. Check your service fees to see if you can lower them. Consider switching to eStatements for added convenience and reduced fees and paper clutter. If you’re a Vancity member, learn more about switching to eStatements today. 

Week three: Repair your foundation.

If your financial foundation is cracked, your hard-earned money can leak away.  

This week, you’ll take steps to make sure your financial base is solid. You’ll build a good foundation, one crucial to long-term stability. Once you’re done, this foundation will be solid enough to weather financial storms in the future.  

Your week three checklist:

• Tackle consumer debt. Put a plan in place to pay off a certain amount of debt per month and set up automatic payments. You should know how much you can reasonably apply to your debt thanks to your budget. If you can, plan for extra payments throughout the year to speed up your journey—every bit helps. 

• Track your spending. Use a budgeting app or spreadsheet to monitor your expenses and stay accountable. 

• Assess your credit cards. Take a closer look at your credit cards to evaluate their rates, rewards, and fees. Do some research into what other credit cards can offer you.  

• Build an emergency fund. Make a plan to automate contributions to your emergency fund. Or start building one, if you haven’t already, to safeguard against unexpected financial challenges, even when you’re on a tight budget.  

• Automate savings and payments. Set up automatic transfers to your savings account and automate bill payments to keep your financial foundation strong.  

Week four: Polish your long-term plan.

Your long-term plan doesn’t need to be perfect. Just try to be a little more prepared than yesterday, and you’ll find yourself on the right path.  

In week four, you’ll be reviewing your overall financial plan. Take a step back and look at your strategy overall. Keep in mind that a well-balanced plan is key. Make sure you have both short-term and long-term financial goals and a plan to achieve them. 

Your week four checklist:

• Review your retirement plan and any planned RRSP contributions. If you don’t have a retirement plan in place, now’s the time to map one out. Future you will thank past you for this. We’re here to help-book an appointment with us to get started. 

• Open or review high-interest savings accounts, TFSAs, or FHSAs. Make your money work smarter, not harder.  

• Stay informed about any tax changes that might affect your finances. 

• Review your investment accounts. Are they working for you? Do you need to rebalance your portfolio?  

• Update, review, or make a will. Make sure your wishes are clear and legally documented. 

• Check your home, health, and life insurance. Make sure you’re covered in all the right places before you need it.  
• Get advice from the pros. A financial advisor can help you knock most of the items off this list. They’ll identify areas for improvement and give you personalized advice. And the best part? Speaking to a Vancity Wealth Advisor is free for members. 

Post-clean: Celebrate the reset.

Treat yourself for sticking with it—maybe with that $50 you saved cancelling subscriptions. It’s important to balance being frugal with encouraging yourself to keep going. 

Don’t forget to:  

• Celebrate your wins. Whether it’s a small treat, a relaxing evening, or a mini splurge, take a moment to recognize your hard work and dedication. 

• Reflect on your progress. Look back at the steps you’ve taken and the improvements you’ve made. It’s motivating to see how far you’ve come. 

• Bookmark this page. Save this checklist and revisit it next spring (or sooner) to keep your financial plan on track.  

A Vancity expert can help you sort through the clutter and find what works for you. Not a member yet? Opening an account online is a breeze. 

Mutual funds and other securities are offered through Aviso Wealth, a division of Aviso Financial Inc. The information contained in this article is from sources believed to be reliable; however, we cannot guarantee that it is accurate or complete. This information is for informational and educational purposes and is not intended to provide specific advice including, without limitation, investment, financial, tax or similar matters.  Using borrowed money to finance the purchase of securities involves greater risk than purchasing using cash resources only. If you borrow money to purchase securities, your responsibility to repay the loan and pay interest as required by its terms remains the same even if the value of the securities purchased declines. Please see our Terms of Use. or complete.  This material is not intended to be investment, tax or other advice and should not be relied on without seeking the guidance of a professional to ensure your circumstances are properly considered.