You have seen the summer challenges. Ten thousand steps. No sugar. Cold plunges before coffee. Gratitude journaling with your eyes half open.
That’s all great for your body. But what about your bank account?
This summer, we are skipping the burpees and giving your finances a glow-up. Four weeks. One challenge per week. Less stress. More savings. And yes, you can do it from a beach chair.
Let’s get your wallet looking just as good as your tan.
We are starting fresh. This is your financial detox.
Take one hour this week to tidy up your accounts and clear out anything weighing you down.
Your challenge:
Cancel old subscriptions or apps you forgot about
Check your bank and credit card statements for sneaky fees
Move any forgotten funds into your main savings account
Set a weekly reminder to keep tabs on your money
It is like cleaning out your fridge, but for your finances. You will feel better instantly.
Extra tip:
Do a five-minute password cleanup. Log into your bank apps and delete any saved logins for cards or accounts you no longer use. Declutter starts with access.
This is your reality check week.
Track every dollar that leaves your account. No shame, no judgment. Just awareness.
Your challenge:
Write down every expense for seven days
Highlight your biggest money leaks
Pick one category to reduce by next week
Extra tip:
Give your spending categories fun nicknames. Instead of “Dining Out,” try “Taco Decisions.” It makes the process feel less clinical and more playful — which means you are more likely to stick with it.
Now that you have trimmed the excess, it is time to build something strong.
Your challenge:
Set up or increase your automatic savings
Make one extra payment toward debt
Set a summer goal you can actually reach
Small amounts count. Even five or ten dollars a week adds up over time. This is how financial strength is built.
Extra tip:
Open a dedicated savings account with a name that gets you excited. “Summer Fun Fund” or “Freedom Stash” has more energy than “Savings 0042.” Psychology helps with progress.
You made it to the final week. That calls for a win — just not one that undoes all your progress.
Your challenge:
Plan a low-cost reward for yourself
Reflect on what habits felt easy and what felt hard
Keep one habit going for the rest of the summer
Tell a friend or partner about your progress
Extra tip:
Set up a calendar event one month from now to check in on how it’s going. Add a short note to your future self with something encouraging like, “Keep going — you are doing great.” You deserve cheerleaders, even if it is you.
Getting your finances in shape does not mean sacrifice. It means making space. Space to save. Space to enjoy your money. Space to feel in control again.
This glow-up is not about becoming someone else. It is about becoming the version of you who checks their account balance and smiles a little.
Want to see how this challenge fits into your bigger financial picture? Start a free financial plan and see where you stand, where you are headed, and what you can tweak along the way.
Your money deserves a summer glow-up. You do too.
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We spoke with retirees and combed through national surveys to understand the most common regrets people have once they leave the workforce. More importantly, we’ll walk through how you can take simple, proactive steps to avoid those regrets yourself.
We’d all love to be whisked away to a private villa in Sicily or Bali where someone brings us espresso and warm pastries on a balcony with ocean views. But for most of us, a “big vacation” has to fit into the same budget that also pays for groceries, car insurance, and that unexpected vet bill.
Welcome to the world of loud budgeting, doom spending, and a whole new way of thinking,, and talking — about money.