7. Staying up to date on your credit reports

You should compare checking your credit score to going on an annual check-up at your doctor’s office. Both are equally important, but it’s sometimes easy to get sidetracked, especially when it comes to your financial health.

Luckily, you may get one credit report, for free, once every 12 months. For further information in between these check-ins you can go to TransUnion, Equifax and Experian for annual credit reports.

These can give you a better sense of your improvements or lack thereof. For many Americans, seeing the consequences of their spending habits regularly really does help solidify their saving and budgeting plans.