Spring cleaning is a seasonal tradition that dates back thousands of years across multiple cultures.

As the weather warms, the birds return and flowers bloom, we start to open our windows, shake out the dust and set up our homes to welcome this season of renewal.

While spring cleaning has a long history, there’s another, more modern type of spring cleaning that can be beneficial: Spring cleaning your finances! Like cleaning your home, cleaning up your finances can give you a sense of accomplishment and make you feel good.

What’s involved in spring cleaning your finances? Here are a few easy steps you can take — no brooms or mops involved!

Dust off your budget. If you haven’t looked at your budget since last year, now would be a good time to take a look at it. You may have changes to make, including planning new savings goals for this season or taking a hard look at how much you’re spending on take-out meals. A simple review can bring your spending back in line with your income and renew your commitment to saving for a future expense or that upcoming summer vacation.

Pay down debt. Did your debt creep up over the cold winter months? Are you still paying off holiday bills? Now is a great time to add up the debt you have and make a solid plan to pay it down. If you’re overwhelmed and not sure where to start, make an appointment with a Certified Financial Counselor at CommonWealth One who can help you make a plan and set goals for the remainder of this year. At the same time, they can talk to you about savings goals!

Revisit your tax withholdings. Your taxes (or your extension paperwork and any estimated payment) are due Tuesday, April 18 this year. If you work at a job where taxes are automatically withheld from your paycheck, be sure to take a look at those numbers and request any needed adjustments. If you owe a lot in taxes this year, you’ll want to increase your withholdings to avoid a surprise tax bill next year. If you’re getting a big refund, you’ll want to decrease your withholdings. If you pay quarterly estimated taxes, take another look at whether you’re paying enough there, too.

Shred, shred, shred. As you clean your house this spring, you may come across a lot of old bills, receipts and documents you don’t want to just throw out! Protect your identity by bringing items with sensitive information to CommonWealth One for our annual Spring Shred Day events. Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 22 at the Harrisonburg Regional Branch or Saturday, May 20 at the Main Branch. Both events are from 9:00 a.m. to noon and more information is available at cofcu.org/shred-day.

While we can’t clean your house for you, the experts at CommonWealth One are happy to help you breathe new life into your finances by helping you budget, save or invest this spring. You can always stop by a branch, call us or send a secure message through online banking to get in touch and ask for a friendly, helping hand. We’re here for you, for life.