(KGTV) - Like many San Diegans, Amanda Nelson’s approach to money is often ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ Experts say spring is the perfect time of year to start fresh.
"It's about making things more efficient, about saving money decluttering all of your financial life as well," said Lynnette Khalfani-Cox.
Cox is a personal finance expert, television and radio personality, and author of 12 books, including the New York Times bestseller Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.
She recommends Nelson start with a few simple things that might make a big difference.
1) Shred it, or scan it. Many companies offer paperless options for statements.
2) Check your credit report. Contrary to what you might think, it doesn't hurt your score.
"When you check your own credit report it’s called a soft pull, meaning that you have the right as a consumer to check to keep tabs on your credit to make sure there's no erroneous outdated or unverifiable info in there," said Cox.
Starting this year, a new credit score, called Ultrafico, will now let you increase your score by keeping $400 in your bank account and avoiding overdraft fees.
3) Think about paying down your debt, especially credit cards that you might have used during the holidays.
Cox also recommends signing up for automatic bill pay to cut down on late fees. She sees it as a kind of financial maintenance.
"It's kind of like you're watering your financial garden and then if you do it right, you'll see a lot more things blooming for you and you'll prosper in a way that'll be less stressful and frankly much more beneficial for your wallet as well,” said Cox.
