12/07/2021
Financial planning for the year ahead can be beneficial for holidays, vacations, and can help you save money for unexpected bills and emergencies. Using a financial calendar to plan for the year ahead can provide a breakdown of your monthly expenses and give you and your family some stability for the upcoming year.
We’ve created this guide to assist you in your yearly financial planning. Explore the key moments below for tips on managing your finances effectively.
Tax time
April 15th is the tax deadline in the United States. Income tax is withheld from the pay of most employees. Your pay includes your regular pay, bonuses, commissions, and vacation allowances.
Preparing for tax season is very important. To avoid possible fees and other penalties you need to complete your tax preparation on time.
Real estate season
If you’re looking to sell your home, the normal “sweet spot” for selling is between May and August as most people are looking to buy a house before the summer ends and children return to school.
When buying or selling a home, you’ll need to factor in costs such as inspections, closing costs and upgrades. These costs can and do add up.
Summer
Summer vacations are great, but they can be expensive. However, with budgeting and planning it’s possible.
Adding your summer vacation into a financial calendar means you can keep track of what you’ve paid and what you still need to pay, as well as how long you have left to pay it off.
Setting up a new savings account can make it easier to put money away for your vacation too. By using a financial planning calendar, you can also come back from your vacation knowing you can happily start planning the next trip away with the family.
Christmas Shopping
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! With presents, decorations, parties, and, potentially, traveling, Christmas can be expensive.
It is becoming increasingly more common to begin Christmas shopping and holiday planning in September and October, so it’s important to plan ahead.
Planning for the busy holiday period on your financial calendar, and making sure you set money aside for the related shopping, can make it easier to budget for multiple gifts and visits to family during the holidays.
FAQs
How can I find a financial calendar to use?
Set up an excel spreadsheet to help you plan for the financial year ahead.
Is there a tax season?
Yes, between January 1st and April 15th.
When should I begin a financial calendar?
Ideally, start planning around December for the year ahead. Or you can do it from April to April to align with tax season. The earlier you start, the better prepared you’ll be for the year ahead. Don’t forget to update your calendar if your finances change, you get a better job, or if the amount of bills your pay increase or decrease. This means you’ll always be up to date on what your goals are and what you’ve got to do to achieve them.
