![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/iStock_bankteller(crop).jpg\" "\\"Closing")
I took an afternoon off from work, closed my account, and started fresh at a local credit union. It was one of the best financial decisions I’ve ever made.<\/p>\nI opened my first checking account on the day I entered college. During registration, local banks set up tables at one end of the room. They all seemed the same to me. I chose the bank that gave me a free Frisbee. I did business with that bank for seventeen miserable years. I loathed that bank. They were constantly finding new and interesting ways to charge me money. If I hated it so much, why didn’t I change? Because I never felt like I had the time. Besides, I had no idea where else to go.<\/p>\n
Eventually the bank went too far. Because of some obscure procedural policy, I was charged three $30 overdraft fees in a single day. This kicked my ass into gear. I took an afternoon off from work, closed my account, and started fresh at a local credit union. It was one of the best financial decisions I’ve ever made.<\/p>\n
If I could solve one financial problem in a few hours, just imagine what I could do with an entire day.<\/strong> If you, too, have grand financial plans that you never seem to have time to fulfill, consider taking a personal Money Day. Choose a normal weekday (when banks and business are open), take time off work, and get things done. Don’t worry that you’re using a vacation day for “nothing” \u2014 this vacation day will repay you many times over, not just now but for years to come.<\/p>\n Before you begin, remove any barriers<\/a> \u2014 mental and physical \u2014 that might prevent you from accomplishing your goals. Gather all the account information you can find. Eliminate distractions. Commit to spending the entire day taking control of your personal finances. It’s time to do all the things you’ve been putting off!<\/strong><\/p>\n Here are some tasks you might consider for your Money Day. These may sound dull, but the money you’ll save by taking the time to do these can be very exciting:<\/p>\n This one change can work wonders on your finances. You can’t change your habits if you don’t know where the money goes. You can track your spending<\/a> with a simple notebook, but most people find a computer makes things easier. You can create your own spreadsheets, or you can try a piece of personal finance software like Quicken<\/a> or Microsoft Money. There are some exciting new web applications, too. Give Wesabe<\/a> a try.<\/p>\n A budget can be a valuable tool. Yeah, the whole concept is boring, but if you can plan where your spending will go, you can make better decisions with your money. You can set up a budget on a piece of paper, or in a spreadsheet, or with a piece of software (PearBudget<\/a>, for example).<\/p>\n If you, too, picked a bank because they were handing out free Frisbies, it’s probably time to find a bank that works for you as an adult. If you’re happy with your bank, then call them and ask them to eliminate service fees or to give you better interest rates. If you’re unhappy with your bank, find a new one. A local credit union is an excellent choice. You might also consider internet banks, which often feature better interest rates<\/a>. Here are few:<\/p>\n You can also easily compare rates side by side using this form.<\/p>\n<\/span>Begin tracking every penny you spend<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Set up a budget<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Optimize your bank accounts<\/span><\/h2>\n
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