Some financial tune-ups regularly can help you avoid making a mess of your fiscal affairs down the road. Here’s where to get started, and some of the ways Parsons Federal Credit Union can help you get a better grasp of your financial standing.

Revamp your budget

Living within your means is an integral part of a healthy financial lifestyle. But we’re all human, and those new kicks you spotted at the mall or that popular restaurant down the street can make it difficult to stay faithful to your budget. We recommend that you review last year’s spending transgressions, then recalibrate your budget for this year.  Our Budgets and Trends tools can help you track spending in different categories you set to help you recalibrate your budgets.

Tweak your investments

As important as it is to track current spending habits, make sure also to review the investment allocations in your retirement account and other long-term savings. This spring, adjust the mix if what you hold no longer gels with your overarching financial goals. We recommend scheduling a consultation with our CFS Investment Advisor Tiffany Yee to go over your financial holdings and make sure they are helping you achieve your goals.

Ramp up retirement contributions

Boost your retirement savings by setting up a monthly transfer from your checking account into a retirement fund. Contributing to a traditional individual retirement arrangement, or IRA, before the tax filing deadline may reduce your previous year’s taxable income. But consider making regular contributions throughout the year — it can take some of the guesswork out of investing the money. Use our Online Banking platform to schedule monthly transfers quickly and reliably.

The takeaway

Be it tweaking your budget or adjusting your withholding amount, there are plenty of ways to get organized this spring. No matter how minor a certain tune-up item may seem – like cutting back on movies or brewing your own coffee – you’ll be doing yourself a favor by putting the savings toward your future.

This article originally appeared on NerdWallet under the title “Spring Clean Your Finances” and was published by the Associated Press.