Spring cleaning is a time of revitalization after that long winter sleep. While spring cleaning often brings on the urge to clean behind your couch, wash the walls, dust the ceiling fans and so much more, don’t forget to comb through your finances!
While you’re kicking out those dust bunnies, let’s talk about some ways you can spring clean your bank accounts, bills and budget.
Lüften means “airing out” in German, and it refers to the popular practice of opening windows and airing out a house — even in winter.
While technically, yes, we are talking about spring cleaning your finances, fresh air is important! Take a moment to open your windows and soak up some vitamin D to motivate you to take a hard look at your finances.
It’s common for people who live in colder states to have vitamin D deficiencies, worsened by the winter months. A vitamin D deficiency can lead to fatigue, symptoms of depression, decreased immunity and muscle pain.
Take out the trash and sweep through your subscription services. The average American spends $91 on monthly subscriptions. Many of these services are on autopay and can be easy to forget about if you’re no longer using them.(1)
Here are some popular subscription services. Take a second to count how many you have:
Are there any bundles you could switch to for savings? And lastly, how much are you really paying every month on subscriptions?
Sometimes we create a budget and then forget to adjust it with new bills, changing income, growing families, new animal companions and so on. Review your current income, expenses, debt, savings contributions and fun money allowances for 2026.
Don’t have a budget? Then take this opportunity to make one! Whether you use the 50/30/20 method, envelope stuffing, zero-based or something else entirely, the best budget is the one that you can stick to.
Savings accounts have variable interest rates, which means banks can change them at any time. Most financial institutions adjust their savings rates with the market.
While this flexibility can be advantageous sometimes, it can also mean a lower rate than when you signed up for the account. If your rate is lower than you remember, it might be time to compare savings accounts and find a better deal.
Savings accounts have variable rates, but certificates of deposit (CDs) usually have fixed rates. This means if the market takes a dip, your CD’s interest rate will stay the same, because it’s fixed! If you want consistent rates for a set period, consider a CD over a regular savings account.
Are you on track for retirement? While everyone has different retirement plans based on lifestyles, income and family size, there are some general benchmarks for reference.
While you’re spring cleaning, check on your retirement savings to see if it’s in line with general guidelines:
If you’re not on track, consider increasing your contributions or looking into other investment opportunities.
It’s well known that insurance providers of all types typically increase their rates each year, which you’ll notice at renewal time. The average driver pays $181 per month for auto insurance, or $1,084 for six months, which is an 18% increase over last year.(2)
Knowing rates increase around renewal time, it’s smart to shop around for insurance rates every six to 12 months, depending on your provider’s renewal cycle. There are many types of insurance you might be using, but there are also a lot of providers, so take time to find the best deal you can.
It’s spring, which means summer is around the corner! If you’ve got a vacation on your mind, take some time to make a plan to save now.
Vacations and traveling aren’t cheap. The average American vacation costs about $1,584 per person, per week, according to the travel data aggregator Budget Your Trip. With that rough estimate in mind, consider saving for a vacation as soon as you can.
If this is a new term for you, a sinking fund is money you’ve set aside for something you know will happen. If you find yourself rushing to pay for those semi-regular, large expenses, then a sinking fund can be a great move.
You can create sinking funds for recurring (but not quite monthly) expenses, such as property taxes, Christmas gifts, car maintenance and so on.
Here’s an example of a simple sinking fund: an anniversary present. You know it’s coming — it’s the same day every year! If you plan to spend $150 on a nice dinner or anniversary present, then just saving $12.50 each month for 12 months yields you $150. No need to break a budget or charge a credit card to get your spouse something nice for this very expected (but not quite regular) splurge.
Tax season is well upon us, and you have until April 15, 2026, to file. If you’re owed a refund, or you typically get one, do you have a real plan for it?
Example plans for a tax refund include:
I don’t mean emptying your bank account. I’m talking about getting rid of a bank account that’s still charging you monthly maintenance fees to keep it open.
Many big banks, including Chase and Wells Fargo, will nickel-and-dime you in monthly fees just for having an account. Some accounts charge $5 to $25 per month, or $60 to $300 per year.
There are plenty of free bank accounts to compare. And if you switch banks, you might as well compare bank account bonuses. These offers are usually for new customers only, which could be extra cash if you qualify.
Spring is a time for renewal and growth. Opening windows, cleaning out your gutters and finally raking those leaves is likely on your list, but don’t neglect your finances. An annual audit can help you spot things that slipped under the rug during the cold months.
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Chime is a fintech company and not a true bank, so it can’t integrate with Zelle. But you can use Chime’s Pay Anyone for P2P payments.
The $500 Axos Bank bonus is now expired, but you can still earn $50 per qualifying referral.
Over 2,000 banks use Zelle, but some of the best accounts with this P2P integration include Chase, Fifth Third, SoFi, Ally and more.
Ally is a legit online bank with no monthly fee and a high APY. See what it’s doing to protect your data and compare to other banks here.
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