Make your money count - consider where your money has gone over the past year or so. Are you happy with how and where you're spending it? If not, make some changes in 2022. That could mean shopping more at local small businesses, cutting out massive retailers like Amazon or <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/21/millennials-spurred-growth-in-esg-investing-now-all-ages-are-on-board.html">looking into sustainable investing </a>. No, your personal expenditures aren't likely to change how the entire world operates. But in many ways, your dollars are your voice. Exercise them with care.

<ul><li>Contribute more to your Roth IRA - which let savers contribute money after they have paid taxes on it. Contributions and earnings grow tax-free (assuming investors follow the withdrawal rules), making them particularly powerful investment vehicles for workers in lower tax brackets.</li><li>Prepare for student loan repayments to resume - After a nearly two-year reprieve, federal student loans payments in the US will <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/08/experts-ask-biden-to-push-back-the-return-of-student-loan-payments-.html">resume Feb. 1, 2022</a>. To prepare, financial experts advise <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/15/biden-unlikely-to-extend-student-loan-pausehow-borrowers-can-prepare.html">checking your balance </a>to understand how much you owe each month & work out how to fit it back into your budget.</li></ul>

<ul><li>Be careful with trading apps - avoid investing through apps that <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/21/robinhood-is-having-a-moment-users-should-be-careful.html">make a game out of investing </a>, particularly short-term investments. Make sure that you have a sizable emergency fund held in an FDIC-insured savings account.</li><li>See a financial therapist - if your relationship with money is strained conifer making an appointment. They help clients process their underlying feelings about money, while making plans for retirement, savings, investments and other goals.</li><li>Monitor your accounts - there's no excuse not to be proactive about cybersecurity. Turn on multi-factor authentication. </li></ul>

<ul><li>Make a plan for your benefits - familiarize yourself with your employer's benefits this year. There could be things available you haven't been aware of, such as financial planning sessions or wellness opportunities.,Don't let them go to waste.</li><li>Do one task you've been putting off - we all have that one thing we know we need to do, yet keep finding ways to push off. Make an effort to finally check that one thing off of your long-term to-do list, whether it's finally <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/25/3-easy-ways-to-make-sure-your-401k-is-on-the-right-track.html">assessing your investment mix and fees </a>or <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/07/its-essential-to-review-your-will-or-estate-plan-every-few-years.html">making an end of life plan</a>.</li></ul>

<ul><li>Picture your perfect year - take time to reflect on 2021 and think about what, if anything, you'd like to do differently in 2022.</li><li>Track your growth - calculate your net worth is a good start. This is essentially your assets (cash in checking and savings accounts, investments, real estate, cars, etc.) less your debts (student loans, mortgages, overdue credit card bills, etc.). You can use an app like Personal Capital, or an Excel tracking sheet.</li><li>Invest in an index fund - opt to invest in index funds if you’re looking to build wealth. Index funds are designed to track the entire stock market.</li></ul>

<ul><li>Increase your savings rate - your savings rate is the percentage of your income that you keep each month, versus the amount that you spend. Increasing it, even slightly, will put you in a better overall financial position. You'll have additional money stashed away for a rainy day, or to put toward your other goals, whether that's buying a house or investing more. Start small: <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/23/why-you-should-increase-your-401k-or-ira-contributions-by-1percent.html">Increase your 401(k) contribution by 1% </a>at the start of each year or cut out one monthly subscription you don't need, and send that money to your savings account instead.</li></ul>

<ul><li>Stop timing the market - when the stock market starts getting rocky, it's natural to want to pull back to "save" money. Rather than letting your nerves get the best of you, think of a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/07/what-to-do-during-a-down-market.html">down market as a buying opportunity </a>. At the very least, don't get spooked and pull your money out of your investments. Your bottom line will thank you.</li><li>Talk it out - schedule time with your significant other to get on the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/10/how-to-talk-money-with-your-partner-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic.html">same page about your finances </a>and goals. Not partnered up but still want to talk it out with someone? <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/05/how-to-talk-about-money-with-your-friends.html">Try hosting a money salon </a>— it can be on Zoom — with friends.</li></ul>

<ul><li>Find some inspiration - if your goals are feeling a little stale, search for some new inspiration. Depending on your interests, there are any number of online forums that might appeal to you. </li><li>Ask for what you're worth - one thing we're leaving behind in 2021? Being underpaid for our work.!For many workers, the time has <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/10/how-to-ask-for-a-raise.html">never been better to ask for a raise </a>. Of course, this can be a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/15/anxious-about-asking-for-a-raise-try-this-.html">nerve-wracking prospect </a>. Make It has plenty of advice on <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/10/how-to-ask-for-a-raise.html">how to prepare for the talk </a>with your manager and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/08/phrases-to-avoid-when-asking-for-a-raise-and-what-to-say-instead-salary-negotiations-expert.html">get the money you deserve </a>.</li></ul>

<ul><li>Schedule a recurring life administration day - dedicate a certain day to reviewing your finances and other <a href="https://lifehacker.com/schedule-a-personal-inventory-day-each-month-1821807681">life administrative tasks on a recurring schedule </a>. Tasks could include checking on spending, rolling over an old 401(k), submitting receipts for reimbursement, returning purchases you don't plan to keep or culling subscriptions. To make the most of this day, keep a list on your phone or somewhere else easily accessible of the tasks you need to accomplish, from reviewing your spending to submitting receipts to checking your net worth.</li></ul>

<ul><li>Learn about crypto - you shouldn't throw all of your money into cryptocurrencies, but at this point, you should take time to learn about them and how they work. </li><li>Figure out your retirement number - Even if you're decades away from retirement, it's important to have an idea of how much you might need stashed away to support yourself after you stop working full time. Remember: Things change. Get an idea of how much you need, but know that it will likely change over time.</li></ul>

<ul><li>Cut down your expenses - Another way to save a little and ensure you're spending on what's important to you is to rank your expenses. Consider the money you'd save on those expenses, and what it would look like to put it toward one of your goals instead.</li><li>Stop timing the market - when the stock market starts getting rocky, it's natural to want to pull back to "save" money. Rather than letting your nerves get the best of you, think of a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/07/what-to-do-during-a-down-market.html">down market as a buying opportunity </a>. At the very least, don't get spooked and pull your money out of your investments. Your bottom line will thank you.</li></ul>

From calculating your net worth to making better investments, here are 22 things to do to improve your financial fitness in 2022.

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