How to spring clean your finances from budgeting to sorting your pension (2025)

Sorting your money over the Easter weekend may not sound fun but spending even a few minutes on some simple money tasks can save you a lot in the long run.

“Getting your finances in check can seem like a daunting chore, so breaking it down into smaller, more manageable tasks can stop you from feeling overwhelmed,” says Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, who uses the “15-minute rule” spending just 15 minutes on that job you’ve been putting off.

“Fifteen minutes is a length of time that isn’t intimidating – once you get going, chances are you’ll not you won’t stop when you hit the time limit,” she adds.

Here are 20 simple tasks to tackle over the long weekend to help take control of your money.

Get an app to do it for you

There’s a huge range of free budgeting apps to help you organise your finances.

Many use open banking so you can link all your accounts in one place, and they can help you with budgeting and short and long-term savings goals.

For example, Moneybox, Snoop and Plum offer multiple services in one place.

Banks will also offer budgeting advice.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance for Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Your current account, investment company and pension provider are likely to have apps that let keep an eye on your finances and manage them at the time that suits you.

“Take a few minutes to download each one, and next time you’re scrolling idly through your phone, you can start exploring the features that can make your life easier.”

Tidy up your old pensions

Most people have around seven jobs in their lifetime, and thanks to auto enrolment this means many of us have lots of small pension pots. This can result in multiple charges, forgotten money, and lost savings.

It’s estimated that there is £31.1bn in 3.3 million pension pots, according to the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI).

The government’s free pension tracking service can help you track down old pots to see how much money you have. Once you find where your money is, it can be easier to consolidate these into one pot.

Plan your long weekend TV and cancel your subscriptions

Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, Now and Amazon – how many do you have and how many do you actually watch? The cost of subscription packages can really add up and there’s no point paying for them if you’re not using them.

Ms Gammell says: “Most streaming services allow you to cancel your subscriptions at any time without a fee, so if you plan what you want to watch, you could alternate between different streaming platforms each month to save money.”

Take advantage of employer perks

Not only will your employer pay into your pension, but there are also usually lots of other benefits you could be taking advantage of. This includes gym memberships, discounts at shops and restaurants, or cheaper train travel. Speak to your manager, or the HR team, to make sure you’re receiving what’s available.

It doesn’t pay to be loyal

From broadband contracts to energy tariffs, it rarely pays to stay with the same provider after the initial fixed term has ended.

“If you’re approaching the end of contracts, always shop around for the best price where possible but if that feels too stressful or you’re particularly time-poor, haggle with your current provider,” says Vix Leyton, consumer expert and host of the Spendology podcast.

“This is very much a buyers’ market and providers are aware of new customer bonuses and incentives so may well fight to keep you,” she adds.

Check where your pension is invested

If you have a private pension, do you know where it’s invested and what it’s likely to look like when you retire? Your provider should be able to give you a forecast of how much you’ll have to spend when you stop working, but making changes now can make a real difference to the size of the pot.

Laura Suter​​​​, director of personal finance at investment platform AJ Bell, explains: “The default pension fund your employer puts you in might not be the best fit. Look under the bonnet – you could find better options that match your risk appetite and long-term goals. Small tweaks now can make a big difference to your retirement pot over the decades.”

Seeking financial advice can help you make the right decision for you.

Review your credit score

It’s free to check your credit score and it’s something you should be doing regularly. Not only does it give you an idea about your overall finances, it will also flag any inconsistencies – such as if an address or name is wrong, or someone has fraudulently applied for credit in your name. If you do it with MoneySuperMarket’s rewards scheme, SuperSaveClub, you’ll also earn £5 just for checking it.

Take a step back

Taking control of your finances means looking at your short and long-term goals. That includes your daily budget but also the things you want this year or in the next 10 or 20 years. Ms Coles says it’s important to think about what you want to achieve this year, both from your money and your life, when you’re looking at your personal finances.

She adds: “What do you want further ahead? How, when and where do you want to retire? It can be easy to be on the conveyor belt of life and not take time to step off and consider what you really want”.

Claim what’s yours

There have been lots of changes to the benefits system recently and it’s well worth checking if you’re claiming everything you’re entitled to. This includes things like childcare – around two thirds of families don’t claim a free annual £2,000 payment from the government to help with childcare costs, for example. A free benefits calculator can give you these answers in minutes, such as the one from Turn2Us.

Sort your will

It’s not something we tend to think about but having a will is important, especially if you have children, or if you’re not married or in a civil partnership. You can set one up online quickly and easily but if your situation is complicated you may need legal help.

Ms Suter says: “Not the most uplifting task, but writing a will is vital – especially if you’re not married or have a blended family. Without one, your money may not go where you expect.”

How much are your savings paying?

The best savings rates on the market now pay up to 5 per cent interest so if you’re not earning this, it’s time to switch your accounts. You don’t have to lock your money away for a long time either, there are great rates available on easy-access savings accounts too. It’s also the start of a new tax year so you’ll have a new ISA allowance to start using up.

Refinance your car

If you’ve taken out finance to buy a car do you know how much interest you’re paying and how much you’ll pay back overall? Chances are you might be able to get a cheaper deal by refinancing your car. If you switch to a deal with a lower interest rate you’ll save money and your monthly payments will go down. See how much you could save with a free car finance calculator.

Get out of the red

If you’re in debt, the best way to start dealing with it is by taking control. Look at the debts you owe and how much interest you’re paying. If you’ve got a good credit score, you could switch your debt to a zero per cent interest product, to reduce your payments and clear the debt quicker. If your credit score is poor, and you’re unlikely to be eligible for a zero per cent deal, even upping your minimum payments can make a big difference.

Find lost savings

From savings and current accounts to pensions, premium bonds, child trust funds and investments, millions of pounds currently sits in ‘lost’ accounts where owners can’t be contacted because they’ve not updated their details. There are free tracking services which can help you track down any ‘lost’ money including mylostaccount.org.uk and the government’s pension tracing service.

Make a budget

If you want to be in control of your money, making a budget is key. You can do it by hand, on a spreadsheet or you could use a free app such as Snoop. It’s a good idea to look over a normal month to see where your money is coming in from and going to.

Ms Coles says: “If you’ve never done one before, drawing up a budget isn’t a particularly exciting job, but an hour with a budget planner can reap real rewards. Once you’ve added up what you currently spend, you can consider where you need to make cuts, so you end up with some cash at the end of the month.”

Create an emergency account

Setting up an account for emergencies is crucial, and ideally you should have between three and six months of your regular income in it. However, any money in this account will help – and can be used for those unexpected expenses such as a failed MOT or a broken freezer. Just make sure the account is easy access, so you can withdraw your money without a penalty, and that it pays interest.

Challenge yourself

Whether it’s the 5p money challenge, the one per cent club, or the 50/30/20 rule, changing the way you think about and spend money can make a big difference to the amount you have.

With the 5p money challenge you increase the amount you save every day by 5p whilst the one per cent club requires you to start saving 1 per cent of your overall income, while the 50-30-20 rule sees you putting 50 per cent of your money toward needs, 30 per cent toward wants, and 20 per cent in savings.

Have a spring clean

You’ve probably heard (and used) Vinted, Facebook Marketplace and eBay but what about Depop, Thredup or ASOS Marketplace? If you’re having a spring clean and decluttering you can sell pretty much anything online, from clothes, toys or books to things you probably thought were rubbish – empty perfume bottles, toilet rolls or old bottle corks. Just check things like the delivery fee, listing and selling costs, and the protection for sellers before you commit to a sale.

Cash in your loyalty points

Most supermarkets have loyalty schemes, and if you’re signed up to one – 97 per cent of us have at least one loyalty card, according to the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) – you will probably have a pot of points somewhere.

You can usually use these as money off your next shop or you can double the value of the points by redeeming them with a third-party company. Tesco, for example, is partnered with Cineworld, Legoland and Pizza Express.

If it’s just supermarket loyalty schemes you’re signed up to, you could be missing out. Most retailers have these, including M&S, Costa, B&Q and Greggs and if you’re happy to share information with them, you’ll be rewarded with points and discounts.

Do your washing at night

Using household appliances such as washing machines and dish washers at off-peak hours can save you money – if your energy tariff allows it. Some providers offer discounts on energy if you use it in less popular hours. To benefit you’ll need to be signed up to a time-of-use energy tariff and you’ll usually need a smart meter too.