Set financial goals.

Knowing where you want to go is an obvious place to start and it will require having a plan/path for getting you there. Set short-term and long-term financial goals. Then evaluate where you are and assess how you are doing at regular intervals along the way so you can make adjustments sooner rather than later.

Create a budget.

Having a clear view of your income and expenses will help you understand how your financial choices impact your ability to live within your income, prioritize saving, and meet your short-term and long-term financial goals. Creating a monthly budget and monitoring it regularly will enable you to see if you are spending your money where you really want to spend it, helping you stay the course.

Check your accounts and your credit.

Routinely check your savings and checking accounts to ensure your account balances and activity information is accurate. Also, be sure to pull your credit report once a year so you can ensure it is correct and up to date.

By federal law, you are entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three major reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and you can request your free reports at annualcreditreport.com. (This is the only source authorized by Federal law where you can get your free credit report.)

Reviewing both your accounts and credit reports on a regular basis can also help you spot signs of fraud and identity theft early.

Beware of frauds and scams.

With instances of fraud increasingly on the rise, it is important to know how to recognize and avoid scams so you can protect yourself and your money. Check out Stay Safe from Common Scams for tips on spotting common scams and for keeping your personal information safe.

Make informed financial decisions.

Being informed often means learning something new, so be sure to research topics that are new to you or those you are uncertain about. You can search topics on MyCreditUnion.gov to learn more about them.