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Get Organized With To-Do List You Can't Miss

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2008

I've gone back to an old-fashioned approach to make sure I get things done.

Several months ago, I purchased a large, white erasable board with a stand and set it up in my office. At the beginning of each week, I list all the things I need to do for my job and my personal life. Like many people, I have an electronic organizer, but I needed something larger. I wanted something I couldn't ignore, misplace or lose under piles of folders and papers. The white board was just the thing. Making a list - a giant one - has made the difference in ensuring I complete certain tasks.

I want you to create a list of everything you need to do in 2008 to improve or organize your financial life. I want you to start by making the list large. You can use an erasable board or a big sheet of poster board; it doesn't matter. What matters is that it's so large you can't ignore it. Then put the list up in a place you spend a lot of time. Most importantly, the list should be with the tools you need to get the tasks done.

That last point is important. Putting the list in your bathroom might remind you of what you need to do, but it's unlikely you will sit on the side of the tub and make the calls to cross something off the list.

Not sure what to put on the list? Here are some items that can help you get in shape in 2008:

Automate. Make this the year you use technology to straighten out your messed-up finances.

Try online banking. Set up a system that will allow you to pay bills on time, which will improve your credit rating.

Automatically have money taken out of your paycheck to begin building the emergency fund you keep promising to start but never do. The money should be automatically sent to an account that is not linked to your everyday checking and savings accounts. And don't carry around an ATM card for the account.

Create a budget and a net-worth statement. All things financial should start with these documents. A budget lets you know where your money is going. Your net-worth statement gives you a snapshot of what you own and owe. To download the documents, go to media.washington

post.com/wp-srv/business/pdf/

BudgetWorksheetPost.pdf and www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv

/business/pdf/networth.pdf.

Get rid of debt. If you have credit-card or student-loan debt, develop a plan to aggressively rid yourself of that burden. If you can't do it yourself, contact a consumer credit-counseling agency. To find one in your area, call the National Foundation for Credit Counseling at 1-800-388-2227 or go to www.debtadvice.org.

Prepare or update your will. If you can't hire a lawyer, go to any office-supply store or online and order a no-frills kit. Nolo.com sells basic wills online.

Prepare a letter of instruction. This letter includes who should be contacted in the event of your death and the whereabouts of all your essential documents, such as your will, bank statements, insurance polices, checking accounts and mutual-fund statements. If you write the letter on a computer, remember to print a copy or save it to a CD in case your computer can't be accessed.

Check your credit. Get copies of your credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Everyone is entitled to a copy of their credit report from each bureau every 12 months. For details, go to www.annualcreditreport.com. This is the only official Web site to get the free reports.

Review all your insurance policies (home, car and life). Be sure your coverage is adequate.

Diversify your retirement funds. Open your retirement statements or go online and make sure your retirement accounts are well diversified. Here's a site with some general guidance on asset allocation: www.401khelpcenter.com/allocation.html.

By no means is this a complete list. But if you start with these items, you'll be a lot further ahead at the end of next year.

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