1. Review Your Bank & Credit Card Balances (3 minutes)

• Log into all your bank accounts and credit cards.

• Take note of your current balances and available credit.

• Check for any charges you don’t recognize — these should be disputed immediately.

• Compare your current balance to last month’s. If it’s higher, ask yourself: Why? Was it planned or unplanned spending?

Pro tip: Keep a simple spreadsheet or note on your phone where you log balances each month. Over time, you’ll see trends. 

2. Check Upcoming Bills & Subscriptions (2 minutes)

• Open your calendar or bill reminders.

• Confirm due dates for upcoming utilities, rent/mortgage, insurance, memberships, etc.

• Look for subscriptions you no longer use — cancel them now before they renew.

• If a big bill is coming, make a plan for how you’ll cover it.

Pro tip: Automating bill payments for essentials can save late fees — just make sure you always have enough in the account to cover them.

3. Track This Month’s Spending (4 minutes)

• Review your debit and credit card transactions for the past 30 days.

• Break them into 3 categories: Needs, Wants, Savings/Debt payments.

• Spot where you spent the most — is that okay, or does it need a cutback?

• Look for emotional spending patterns (e.g., online shopping after a tough day).

Pro tip: Many bank apps already have automatic spending breakdowns — use them!

4. Check Your Progress on Goals (3 minutes)

• Open your savings, investment, or debt repayment accounts.

• See how much you’ve added (or paid off) since last month.

• Ask: Am I on track to meet my target date?

• If you’re behind, adjust next month’s spending plan to catch up.

Pro tip: Even small, consistent progress compounds over time — don’t underestimate it.

5. Plan One Improvement for Next Month (3 minutes)

• Choose one small action you can take to improve your finances.
  Examples:

  • Move $50 to your emergency fund.

  • Cancel an unused subscription.

  • Increase your debt payment by $20.

  • Bring lunch from home twice a week instead of eating out.

• Write it down and commit to doing it.

Pro tip: Avoid overloading yourself with too many changes at once — one good habit at a time sticks better.

Money problems don’t usually appear overnight — they grow slowly. A monthly checkup catches them before they grow claws.

Your Monthly Money Checkup is like a regular health check — quick, simple, and essential for long-term success. By making it a habit, you’ll always know exactly where you stand and feel more in control of your money.

If you’ve just done your 15-minute money checkup, you’ve already taken a big step toward keeping your finances on track. Now, the real progress comes from making this a habit.

• Free Members – Keep using the quick checkup each month to stay aware of your spending, savings, and goals. You can also explore our other free tools and tips in the Zemaa Neguy library to build momentum.

• Premium Members – Head over to the full Monthly Money Checkup guide, where we go deeper into your cash flow, debt strategy, investments, and long-term goals — complete with step-by-step templates and expert insights.

Not Premium yet? Upgrade anytime to unlock the full checkup and start building your complete money strategy.