These 7 simple ‘financial fitness’ tasks could save you serious coin — and you can get them each done in under an hour
astakhovyaroslav/Envato Sometimes it feels like there aren’t enough hours in a day to take care of all the things on your to-do list. Maybe there are certain items on your list that you keep putting off, maybe because they’ll be a big hassle, or because you’re not sure exactly how you’ll complete the task. Must…
Sometimes it feels like there aren’t enough hours in a day to take care of all the things on your to-do list.
Maybe there are certain items on your list that you keep putting off, maybe because they’ll be a big hassle, or because you’re not sure exactly how you’ll complete the task.
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And when it comes to your finances, it’s likely there’s something that you know needs to get done, but never actually to get around to.
Whether it’s because of underlying anxiety, or just because you haven’t laid out the steps you need to take, why not stop procrastinating and take action on whipping your finances into shape. Or, at the very least, crossing something off that to-do list.
Why not try this one-week “financial fitness” makeover. These seven things you can do should take less than an hour. Seven days, one hour a day, and some big savings in just one week — and you’ll feel all the stronger for it.
Crack your credit report
When was the last time you checked your credit report? You’re entitled by law to receive one free report annually from each of the three national credit bureaus.
You can request your free annual reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Consider spacing out each of your free reports throughout the year, so that you can keep an eye on your credit — you can put a reminder in your calendar every four months.
If you notice any errors, report them right away to the bureau or the institution that holds the account.
Consider a credit freeze
Any time there’s a data breach in the news, it’s an uncomfortable reminder that your personal information can sometimes become vulnerable.
One way to deal with this worry is by freezing your credit, which doesn’t hurt your credit score, and is free to do.
A credit freeze means that no one can open a credit account in your name. But that includes you, so if you — or lenders — will need access to your credit, you’ll have to lift the freeze (you can put it back in place after). You can confirm with the lender which bureau they will contact, and only lift the freeze at that bureau.
Make sure you contact all three bureaus and freeze your credit at each one.
Make your savings work
Where do you keep your savings? If you answered a traditional savings account, your savings could actually be shrinking.
That’s because low interest rates can mean you aren’t keeping up with inflation. So if your cash — short-term savings or your emergency fund — isn’t in a high-yield savings account, consider making the switch.
A Vanguard study from 2025 found that 57% of respondents said their savings earned less than 3% interest, with 24% earning less than 1%. Meanwhile, the U.S. inflation rate for the 12 months ending in June was 3.5%.
Read More: Vanguard reveals what’s coming for U.S. stocks — and it could be bad news for this group of investors
Compare auto insurance plans
Check when your auto insurance is up for renewal, and set a timeline based on that date to shop around for a better deal.
“I would say that comparing car insurance rates is the most low-effort, high-reward way that people can save on car insurance costs,” Matt Brannon, a senior economic analyst at Insurify, told USA Today.
You can also consider raising your deductible. According to Consumer Reports, increasing your deductible from $500 to $1,000 can on average bring annual premiums down from 20% to 25%, meaning an average savings of $464 to $525 a year.
Track your takeout
Sit down with your bank and credit card statements and figure out how much money you’re spending on eating out or ordering in. The results may shock you.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 data showed that food made up 11.9% of the average American’s annual expenditures; 8.1% was food at home, and 3.9% was food away from home.
And 2024 BLS data found that Americans spend an average of $3,945 a year on food away from home.
Consider this: if you spent $72 on a weekly dinner for two, that’s $288 a month, or $3,456 a year. If you instead saved that money and invested with a 5% rate of return (with all earnings reinvested), in 10 years you’d have $44,722.
Cancel unused subscriptions
Sit down with your monthly statements and go over every charge that’s a subscription, then tally them. If the number shocks you, consider which subscriptions you could do without, and more importantly, ditch any that you aren’t using or forgot you even had.
A study from 2022 found that on average, Americans estimated that they spent $86 a month on subscriptions, but they were actually spending $219. That’s $1,596 a year they didn’t think they were spending.
Find a way to save more
This one might sound like a trick. Because if you could save more money, you would, right?
But it’s not about feeling guilty, it’s about going through your spending and seeing where there are opportunities to get closer to your savings goals.
Without judging yourself too harshly, go through one month’s spending and honestly consider whether there’s room for you to be putting a little more aside every month.
One great goal is to max out your 401(k) contribution — for 2026 the maximum for individuals under age 50 is $24,500. See if your budget will allow you to save even 1% more a year, and adjust your contributions if you can.
If you don’t have access to a workplace retirement savings plan, make it a goal to research and open an individual retirement account (IRA). If you meet the income thresholds, you could qualify for the Saver’s Credit (to be replaced by Saver’s Match in 2027), which can mean up to $1,000 ($2,000 if you’re married and filing jointly) in federal credit on qualifying contributions.
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This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: These 7 simple ‘financial fitness’ tasks could save you serious coin — and you can get them each done in under an hour
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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