Now that the holidays are over, it’s time for the bills to start to come in This time of year is when you need to be extra careful about your finances I know that this is a resolution that many of you made on January 1 You need to be carefully checking your statements (both your bank and credit card accounts) for accuracy In my experience, this is when the most errors occur So check those statements to your receipts, balance your checkbook and immediately call to dispute any discrepancies Look for unfamiliar transactions that you are unsure of Sometimes a charge will appear with a different company name than the store you made the purchase from Call to get more information to determine if it’s your transaction The longer you wait, the less protection you have.

In addition, now is the time of year to read the inserts in your statements You know those pieces of paper that you automatically toss Banks and creditors will inform you about changes to your accounts increased fees, new requirements etc You need to know about these before they take affect and it’s too late to do anything about them.

Be proactive with your finances by staying on top on what is happening with your money, will benefit you in the long run You will be able to make choices that are right for you and possibly save you money on fees Wishing you a happy and prosperous new year.