Organizing budget

We're thrilled to present this smart Learnvest story here on Savvy!

Every season, we’ll bring you the top to-dos to get your financial life in order. Winter is closing in, but that doesn’t mean you can hibernate; through the snow and the carols, your finances need to stay warm. Here are the key items on your winter to-do list.

Reassess Your Budget.
Ideal Deadline: December 1
Our lives aren’t the same as they were six months ago, so our budgets shouldn’t be, either. Go to the LV Budgeting Tool to make sure you’re sticking to your current budget, or create a new one if your lifestyle has changed.

Check Your Credit Score.
Ideal Deadline: December 1
We recommend you do this once every season, because keeping up with your credit score is a good way to protect your financial life. It’s easy—just go to Credit Karma to do it for free.

Look Closely At Your Bills.
Deadline: December 14
Read through your bills to understand what you’re spending on your cell phone, utilities, and cable. To find out if there’s anywhere else you can cut back, check out LearnVest’s Cut Your Costs Bootcamp.

What else should you do?

This post comes from Girlwithagoal in our How Do You Save? group.

Staying on top of my family life, home, work and friendships is no walk in the park. It's taken me years, but here are my favorite tips for streamlining my time so I can spend my extra moments with my loved ones.

1. Follow a shopping schedule — I try to only grocery shop twice a week. I do a super shopping mission on Sunday am with my husband and then pick up fresh veggies or anything we forgot on Wednesday or Thursday after work.
2. Use those iPhone apps — There's an app for everything! I use the Mint app to keep my finances in order, Google Cal to keep my appointments organized, the notes section to make grocery store lists and the Epicurious app or search to check out recipes if I am at the store so I don't forget anything and have to come back.
3. Schedule a daily "wrap it up" appointment — I used to leave the office thinking I had a half hour of work to do at home, but once I got home a half hour would turn into three hours. I now set aside the last hour of the day to wrap things up. I go over my email, check my to-do list and update it for the next am and prioritize what needs to be handled before I leave the office, or can wait for the next day.

Want more helpful tips? Keep reading!

Staying organized and on top of your savings are key to both long-term financial and personal success. Doing so isn't easy without a little extra assistance, which is why we've put together a selection of pretty printable downloads that will help you get and stay on track. The beginning of a month is the ideal time to get organized.

It's never too late: Check out Savvy's 2009 Resolution worksheet!	Get your budget on track with Savvy's Spending Tracker doc!	Did he put a ring on it? Download Savvy's Wedding Planning Checklist!

Staying organized and on top of your savings are key to both long-term financial and personal success. Doing so isn't easy without a little extra assistance, which is why we've put together a selection of pretty printable downloads that will help you get and stay on track.

It's never too late: Check out Savvy's 2009 Resolution worksheet!	Get your budget on track with Savvy's Spending Tracker doc!	Did he put a ring on it? Download Savvy's Wedding Planning Checklist!