{"id":39515,"date":"2025-07-26T20:26:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T20:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/39515\/"},"modified":"2025-07-26T20:26:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T20:26:04","slug":"50-money-moves-to-make-before-the-end-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/39515\/","title":{"rendered":"50 Money Moves To Make Before the End of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Janelle Sallenave, chief spending officer at Chime<\/a>, recommends making money goals as clear as possible. Doing so not only allows you to break each goal down into manageable steps, but it also gives your money direction and keeps you focused on what matters most for your financial future.<\/p>\n

Try This: 9 Downsizing Tips for the Middle Class To Save on Monthly Expenses<\/a><\/p>\n

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The fall season is a good time to see whether you\u2019re on track to max out contributions in your employer-sponsored retirement account<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In 2025, you can contribute up to $23,500 in a 401(k) \u2014 if you\u2019re age 50 or older, you can add an additional $7,500 via catch-up contributions.<\/p>\n

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For 2025, the maximum contribution is $7,000 for an IRA. Those ages 50 and older are allowed to make a $1,000 catch-up contribution as well.<\/p>\n

\"Nastassia Nastassia Samal \/ Getty Images\/iStockphoto <\/p>\n

\u201cAn HSA offers triple tax benefits (deductible contributions, tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses),\u201d Gelbman explained. \u201cMany people contribute to an HSA to offset current healthcare expenses, but the balance carries over each year, which means that money can also be invested for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Another tax-advantaged account worth funding is a 529 plan for education expenses. Qualifying expenses \u2014 private school tuition for K-12, college tuition, room and board, books, computers and more \u2014 can be paid using these funds at any time.<\/p>\n

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Austin Kilgore, consumer finance expert and analyst with the Achieve Center for Consumer Insights<\/a>, recommends checking your flexible spending account (FSA) balance. If you have funds in this account, you need to make plans to use them.<\/p>\n

How soon should you use the funds? Kilgore said to check your plan documents or check in with your HR department for the year-end date associated with your plan. Once you know your given date, use the FSA money on the products or services you need, or you will lose these benefits.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s Interesting: 4 Surprising Things That Could Impact Your Wallet If a Recession Hits<\/a><\/p>\n

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What if you reside in a federally declared disaster area? Robby J. Graham, CPA and wealth strategist at Waddell & Associates<\/a>, said you may be eligible to make 2024 contributions to IRAs and HSAs beyond the standard deadlines.<\/p>\n

He recommended \u201cconsulting a qualified tax professional to confirm your eligibility and the specific postponement date applicable to your state to take advantage of this opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t already have an emergency fund as a financial safety net? Start building one now that can cover three to six months\u2019 worth of expenses (at a minimum).<\/p>\n

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Did you dip into your emergency fund this year to pay for an expected medical bill or another critical expense? Use the remaining part of this year to rebuild this fund.<\/p>\n

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Feeling overwhelmed thinking about how to save three to six months of expenses with five months left in the calendar year? Your workplace may offer an emergency savings account (ESA) to help automate the process.<\/p>\n

Devin Miller, CEO and co-founder at SecureSave<\/a>, recommends finding out whether your employer offers an ESA and signing up to have contributions in this emergency fund come directly from your paycheck.<\/p>\n

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Your financial goals in 2026 might be different than those in 2025 and your budget should be updated to reflect these changes. Gelbman recommends analyzing your 2025 spending and income to create a realistic 2026 budget.<\/p>\n

Discover More: 8 Frugal Habits You Should Never Quit, According to Frugal Living Expert Austin Williams<\/a><\/p>\n

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If you create an extremely restrictive budget, chances are highly likely you won\u2019t stick to it.<\/p>\n

Ahead of next year, Erica Sandberg, consumer finance expert at BadCredit.org<\/a>, said to review your spending and consider purchases or experiences you value most. This can be \u2014 as examples \u2014 attending a baseball game with your family, getting manicures at a nail salon or going out to dinner with friends. Build these important luxuries into your budget and get rid of things and\/or activities you don\u2019t need.<\/p>\n

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After creating a budget and a fully funded emergency fund, your next priority will be to pay off any high-interest debt you may have accumulated. Consider using the snowball or avalanche repayment methods.<\/p>\n

The snowball method knocks out debt with lower interest rates and builds up to those with higher rates while the avalanche method starts with highest-interest debt and works down to debt with smaller rates.<\/p>\n

\"Oleg Oleg Elkov \/ Getty Images\/iStockphoto <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re receiving a year-end bonus, Gelbman recommends putting it toward the balance of any debt you\u2019re paying off.<\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t have any debt? Put your upcoming year-end bonus into your savings account.<\/p>\n

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Still need to top off your IRA or Roth IRA contributions for 2025? Transfer your upcoming year-end bonus into this account.<\/p>\n

Check Out: 25 Creative Ways To Save Money<\/a><\/p>\n

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If you experienced hardship this year and are trying to pay off your credit cards, Kilgore recommends checking in with your creditors and explaining your situation.<\/p>\n

According to Kilgore, these creditors might be open to changing credit terms, arranging payment plans, deferring payments or waiving interest.<\/p>\n

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Can\u2019t pay off all your debt this year alone? Kilgore recommends seeing whether you qualify for a personal loan at a favorable rate.<\/p>\n

Doing so will allow you to pay off debt with higher interest and then just have the one loan leftover with a lower rate.<\/p>\n

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\u201cSometimes credit counseling can provide a decrease in a credit card interest rate,\u201d said Kilgore.<\/p>\n

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This option is ideal for someone who has lost their job or is dealing with major medical expenses and is struggling to make even the minimum payments on what they owe. Debt settlement, Kilgore said, negotiates with creditors to lower principal balances due.<\/p>\n

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This money move is as powerful as it is easy. Sandberg said nearly every bank and credit union has a free system that allows customers to have a fixed amount of money seamlessly divert from a checking account into a savings account on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

\u201cI recommend smaller increments made twice a month over one big lump sum once a month,\u201d she said. \u201cFor example, you may want to have $50 moved from your checking account on the 1st and then again on the 15th. By the end of the year, you\u2019ll have $1,200 saved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Explore Next: 7 Frugal Habits of the \u2018Shark Tank\u2019 Stars<\/a><\/p>\n

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You may be financially able to do this as soon as this year or you might need to wait until 2026. In any event, as you set up automated savings, make it a point to save 10% or more from every paycheck.<\/p>\n

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From buying Halloween costumes to paying for a Thanksgiving feast and taking a year-end vacation, now\u2019s a good time to start assessing your upcoming holiday spending and set aside enough money to cover those expenses.<\/p>\n

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This ties back in with the new Big Beautiful Bill legislation. Gelbman said taxes on tips and overtime will be deductible for many Americans.<\/p>\n

Ahead of next year\u2019s tax season, Kasey Pittman, CPA and managing director of tax policy at Cherry Bekaert<\/a>, recommends monitoring upcoming guidance from the IRS and Treasury Department for more information on how new compensation-related provisions will be implemented. This is vitally important for taxpayers who receive a significant portion of their income from tips or overtime. Pittman said it will affect reporting and withholdings.<\/p>\n

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Before 2025 ends, Gelbman recommends reviewing your income and deductions for the year. This ensures your tax withholding from your paycheck or estimated tax payments are sufficient.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you anticipate owing a significant amount come tax time,\u201d he said, \u201cadjusting your withholding or making an additional payment before year\u2019s end can help you avoid underpayment penalties.\u201d<\/p>\n

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If you typically take the standard deduction when filing taxes, consider revisiting this strategy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new $40,000 cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction \u2014 up from the longstanding $10,000 cap \u2014 may make itemizing more beneficial for those with significant SALT payments,\u201d Pittman said. \u201cHowever, high-income individuals may begin to phase out of this benefit under the new overall itemized deductions limitation, so it\u2019s worth running the numbers now.\u201d<\/p>\n

For You: If You\u2019re 55+, Here Are 10 Senior Discounts You Are Missing Out On<\/a><\/p>\n

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Pittman said Social Security income has not been excluded from taxation under the new law, despite misinformation to the contrary. Rather, a temporary $6,000 deduction was created for eligible seniors \u2014 with benefits starting to phase out for individuals earning more than $75,000 (or $150,000 for joint filers).<\/p>\n

\u201cSocial Security income remains partially taxable depending on other income levels. Seniors should confirm how these thresholds affect their 2025 return,\u201d Pittman said.<\/p>\n

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To do this properly, Richard Craft, CEO of Wealth Advisory Group<\/a>, said you need to calculate the required minimum distribution (RMD) amount from all qualified sources.<\/p>\n

The distribution can be taken from any combination of your retirement accounts. However, Craft said it does need to come out of each account specifically. Otherwise, the IRS imposes a 25% excise tax on the amount you were supposed to take out but did not.<\/p>\n

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Earlier, we mentioned \u201cTrump Accounts\u201d as a new savings vehicle for children. If you\u2019re expecting a child in 2025, Pittman said it\u2019s worth discussing long-term savings strategies now to take advantage of this provision once it goes into effect.<\/p>\n

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Before Dec. 31, Gelbman said to make charitable donations to claim the tax deductions for 2025. He recommends donating appreciated securities to avoid capital gains taxes while supporting the causes you care about.<\/p>\n

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A qualified charitable distribution is specific to those ages 70 \u00bd and older. Gelbman said a QCD from an IRA can satisfy your required minimum distributions (RMDs) while also reducing taxable income.<\/p>\n

Be Aware: Warren Buffett Reveals 10 Things Poor People Waste Money On<\/a><\/p>\n

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Ideally, this money move should be made by those who regularly find themselves in a high tax bracket or have experienced a liquidity event, like a business sale. Graham said it could provide a current-year tax deduction and flexibility for future charitable giving.<\/p>\n

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Craft said gifting money today, without any transfer tax, allows the money to grow outside of your estate for the benefit of the person who receives the gift. Consider making this financial gift to your child, if you\u2019re able.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis allows the money to grow for the child\u2019s benefit, which is generally at a lower income tax rate,\u201d Craft said. \u201cBetter yet, give your child money to contribute to an IRA or Roth IRA \u2014 which can grow tax deferred or tax free over their lifetime.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Do you plan to buy a new or used clean energy vehicle? Don\u2019t push this purchase out to next year. Make it before the end of September.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder the new tax bill, clean vehicle tax credits are only available for purchases made through Sept. 30, 2025,\u201d Pittman said.<\/p>\n

\"stevecoleimages stevecoleimages \/ Getty Images\/Vetta <\/p>\n

Another clean energy initiative, which is homeowner specific, are tax credits for residential energy efficiency improvements and home clean energy systems. According to Pittman, these expire after Dec. 31.<\/p>\n

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If you run a small business incorporated as a pass-through entity, like an S Corporation, Pittman recommends assessing the impact of expanded business provisions. A few considerations include changes to depreciation methods, interest expense deductibility and research-related activities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe law also raises income thresholds for the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction. Some small business owners may find it beneficial to evaluate whether operating as a Qualified Small Business C Corporation makes sense under the new rules,\u201d said Pittman.<\/p>\n

Read Next: 5 \u2018Necessities\u2019 Frugal People Don\u2019t Buy, According to Frugal Living Expert Austin Williams<\/a><\/p>\n

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This is known as a backdoor Roth contribution. It can grow tax-free for decades and with no RMDs due. However, Craft recommends carefully understanding this strategy and how it must be done before moving forward with it.<\/p>\n

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Graham said the recent market rally may mean now is a good time to rebalance your portfolio.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn some cases, aligning your asset allocation with your current risk tolerance can also assist in reducing downside volatility and maintaining long-term investment discipline,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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To properly do this, Gelbman said you\u2019ll need to review your investment portfolio for underperforming assets and sell those investments at a loss. Doing so can help offset capital gains taxes and up to $3,000 of ordinary income.<\/p>\n

Gelbman said, \u201cMake sure you comply with IRS wash-sale rules, which state that you cannot sell a security at a loss for tax benefits, but then turn around and buy the same or a similar security within 30 days.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Do you need help optimizing the tax-loss harvesting strategy or have questions about how the Big Beautiful Bill may impact your taxes next year? Reach out to a tax advisor for the answers to get ahead for 2026.<\/p>\n

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Can\u2019t remember the last time you checked your credit report? Make a point to do it before the year ends. Kilgore said you can obtain reports from major credit reporting bureaus like Experian and Equifax at no charge.<\/p>\n

Carefully review these reports and see whether there are any inaccuracies. If there are, you can follow the directions on the agency\u2019s website to correct them.<\/p>\n

Trending Now: 6 Things the Middle Class Should Sell To Build Their Savings<\/a><\/p>\n

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Start getting into the habit of checking your savings and checking accounts<\/a> every day for the remainder of 2025 and beyond.<\/p>\n

Doing so allows you to know exactly how much money you have available and stop any potential fraud in its tracks.<\/p>\n

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Speaking of checking your accounts, now\u2019s a good time to download banking apps to better understand what\u2019s happening with your money and to stay on top of your finances on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

\"anyaberkut anyaberkut \/ Getty Images\/iStockphoto <\/p>\n

Can\u2019t recall the last time you updated the passwords on your financial accounts? Kilgore recommends updating these passwords for additional strength to make them less vulnerable to hackers.<\/p>\n

\"bernie_photo bernie_photo \/ Getty Images\/iStockphoto <\/p>\n

When\u2019s the last time you did an audit in your wallet? Sandberg recommends examining your plastic portfolio before the year wraps and review where you want to pare down or add as needed.<\/p>\n

\"zeljkosantrac zeljkosantrac \/ Getty Images <\/p>\n

Get in the habit of becoming a smart spender and look for small ways you can save money on bills. A few recommendations include washing clothes in cold water, making meals based on what\u2019s in your pantry or freezer and walking instead of driving if your destination is a short distance away.<\/p>\n

View More: 5 Frugal Habits Suze Orman Still Follows Even Though She Can Afford Almost Anything<\/a><\/p>\n

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Admittedly, a lot of what you\u2019re reading can sound overwhelming if you haven\u2019t checked it all off your list yet. So, let\u2019s toss in an easy money move to make: Paying your bills on time.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re already doing this, great job. If not, set up a system like getting an alert from an online calendar or writing it down on a whiteboard at home. That allows you to see all your due dates and know exactly when to make payments.<\/p>\n

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The end of the year brings with it more occasions for spending money \u2014 and embarrassment or anxiety if you\u2019re not comfortable telling family or friends you can\u2019t afford it.<\/p>\n

Sallenave recommends leaning into the habit of talking about finances with your partner, family members and friends.<\/p>\n

\"chee chee gin tan \/ Getty Images\/iStockphoto <\/p>\n

If you made it to the end of this list, you might have questions and thoughts regarding your financial bigger picture. Make time to meet with a financial advisor, ask questions and get answers to better plan for the year ahead.<\/p>\n

More From GOBankingRates<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com<\/a>: 50 Money Moves To Make Before the End of 2025<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Janelle Sallenave, chief spending officer at Chime, recommends making money goals as clear as possible. Doing so not…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":39516,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[32121,28,741,23684,2934,32122,147,530,32123],"class_list":{"0":"post-39515","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-personal-finance","8":"tag-austin-kilgore","9":"tag-business","10":"tag-emergency-fund","11":"tag-financial-goals","12":"tag-getty-images","13":"tag-kasey-pittman","14":"tag-personal-finance","15":"tag-personalfinance","16":"tag-richard-craft"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39515"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39515\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}