Now that the year is halfway gone, here are a few things you should revisit concerning your finances.

Look at Your Cash Flow

One of the first things you should do is review your monthly expenses compared to your income. Are you spending within your means, or are you in the negative each month? Write all of this down and create a budget. Once you have the numbers in front of you, instead of in your head, you can map out your spending. Hold yourself accountable for your spending habits and see your situation improve.

Look At Your Entire Report.

Every year you can get one free copy of your credit report from the three national credit reporting companies. When you look over your report see if there are any errors. Any discrepancy or error could negatively impact your credit score. If you see something, make sure to report it to the credit bureau and the company who sent the information.

Change Your Tax Withholdings

Getting a large tax refund can feel great, but maybe you could have used that money during the year. If your refund check is usually on the larger size you can change you withholdings to get a larger paycheck. More money coming in during the month helps with the bills. If you’ve made changes to other things that lower your expenses, lowering your withholdings will put that much more in your pocket.

Set Financial Goals

Write down any of your financial goals. Believe it or not, writing them down and seeing them makes the goal more real. Think about these goals every day, especially when you are out shopping. Having them in your head will keep you on track and prevent you from unconsciously spending more than necessary. Spending a little more than you would won’t keep you from your goals, but spending less will help you reach those goals faster.

If you experience mid-year financial stress, SeaComm’s partnership with GreenPath Financial Wellness can help. GreenPath provides SeaComm members with access to free one-on-one financial counseling, student loan counseling, debt management services and more. To learn more about how SeaComm’s partnership with GreenPath can help you, click here or call (800) 550-1961.