How to Do a Monthly Money Check-In Like a Pro

A monthly money check-in is one of the best habits you can develop to stay on top of your finances. It helps you track progress, adjust your spending, and stay aligned with your financial goals. The best part? It doesn’t have to take hours—just 30 minutes a month can make a huge difference.
Here’s how to do your monthly money check-in like a pro:

1. Review Your Financial Goals

Start by revisiting your short-term and long-term financial goals. Ask yourself:

Did I make progress toward my savings or debt payoff goals?
Do I need to adjust my budget to better support my priorities?
Are there any upcoming expenses I should plan for?

Keeping your goals front and center ensures that your money is working for you, not just disappearing into day-to-day expenses.

2. Analyze Your Income & Expenses

Check your bank and credit card statements, budgeting app, or spreadsheet to see where your money went this month.

Income: Did you earn as expected? Any additional sources of income?
Spending: Were there any unexpected expenses? Did you stick to your budget?
Trends: Are certain categories (like dining out or subscriptions) creeping up?

This step helps you spot problem areas and make necessary adjustments before they become bigger issues.

3. Assess Your Savings & Investments

Take a moment to review your savings progress:

Emergency or contingency fund balance—are you still on track for your goal?
Sinking funds for upcoming expenses (holidays, car maintenance, etc.).
Investment contributions—did you contribute to retirement or other accounts?

Even small progress toward these goals adds up over time.

4. Check Your Debt Progress

If you’re working on paying down debt, review:

How much you paid off this month.
How much interest you paid (this can be a good motivator!).
Whether you can increase payments next month to speed up progress.

Seeing those balances go down, even slowly, can be incredibly motivating!

5. Review Your Credit Score & Reports

Your credit score plays a big role in your financial health. Take a few minutes to:

Check your score using a free credit monitoring tool.
Review your credit report for errors or fraud.
Identify any areas for improvement (like lowering credit utilization).

You can view your free credit report at annualcreditreport.com. As of the date of this article you can view your reports weekly for free.

6. Plan for the Next Month

Looking ahead is key to staying financially prepared. Consider:

Upcoming bills, annual subscriptions, or irregular expenses.
Any changes in income (raises, bonuses, side gigs).
Financial habits you want to improve.

Adjust your budget as needed so you’re set up for success.

7. Celebrate Wins & Set Intentions

Acknowledge your progress! Even small steps like staying under budget in one category or saving an extra $50 deserve recognition. Setting intentions for the next month can help keep you motivated and focused.

Make it a habit. Put a recurring event on your calendar so you never skip your monthly check-in. Doing this consistently will help you stay in control of your finances and make smarter money decisions over time.

Do you already do a monthly money check-in? If not, when will you schedule your first one? Let me know in the comments!