Why You Need a Start of Month Checklist
- T.
- Apr 23, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 23, 2024
I was sitting on my couch watching some mind-numbing TV and a notification popped up on my mobile saying "START OF THE MONTH". Up I got and I started making an online shopping list of non-perishables, but then I got distracted by a thought... "I wonder if everyone does this...?".
Hi and welcome back to the simply productive blog!
I love starting a new month with a fresh and organised mindset which is why I have a personal start of month checklist to help me plan ahead and stress less about the little things.
In this blog post, I'll share with you some of the items on my checklist and why they are important for me. Maybe you'll find some inspiration for your own checklist, or maybe you will tell me some of the items on your list to help me improve mine, either way let's dive straight into it!
Blog Snapshot:
Stock up on Non-Perishables
The very first thing on my monthly to do list is to buy all my non-perishable items for the month. This has been a real game changer in our household and in the early days when I would forget to do this, I really noticed a dip in my productivity throughout the month.
Now, when I say non-perishable items, I mean things that either last a long time before spoiling (or that never spoil) like:
Toilet paper
Paper towel
Deodorant
Toothpaste
Shampoo and Conditioner
Canned soups, stews etc.
Dried fruits, nuts, grains and spices
Cleaning supplies like anti-bacterial sprays, laundry detergent/powder, bin bags etc.
The aim is to have about a months' worth of these items at hand and then just having a quick weekly top up shop of your perishable items (milk, fruit, veggies etc.) to give you more time to focus on your goals and events throughout the month.
Specials are you best friend! I ALWAYS check for items that are on special (and stock up on them when they are), for this reason you don't have to be super strict with doing this shop on the first of each month, just aim to do it within the first week or two if you can and try to set yourself a routine around when things go on special (and when you have the money to purchase the items of course).
Trust me, if you aren't already doing this, you'll thank me later when you see how productive you become!
Check Your Reoccurring Payments
Hopefully you already have your bill payments set and reoccurring.
If not you can read more about budget tips, setting goals and reoccurring payments in our previous post here: 5 Budget Tips to Tackle Bills and Prepare for the New Year
It's smart to check in on these once in a while, which I usually do monthly or bi-monthly, depending on the payment types, and reassess if the bills are still necessary / affordable.
What should you check?
Check your statements to confirm that the payments are going where they need to go (and nothing is bouncing back).
Know if payments are being deducted from credit cards so you can check when they are going to expire and update the details sooner rather than later (or set reminders to do so).
Make sure the amounts are still affordable for you.
Ask for new deals or discounts wherever you can.
Cancel things when you know you don't need them (or can't afford them). Maybe you don't need that gym membership you never use, that magazine subscription you never read, or you don't need that one streaming service you are subscribed to that you only use once a month to watch a movie on.
The important thing is to not procrastinate with these checks and decisions. Don't think "I'll do it later". Just do it now - and you'll thank yourself later for it.
Plan Your Appointments and Meetings
When you plan your appointments ahead of time, you avoid the hassle of last-minute arrangement, you have a clear overview of your schedule and can prioritise your tasks around that schedule. And you know what? You'll feel better knowing you have sorted your month out and don't have to think about it for another month!
Reminders are key! Make sure you set yourself reminders as soon as you book the appointment/meeting in - do not rely on them to send you one. There is nothing worse that planning it in advance and missing it because you have forgotten about it (and then stressing and trying to reschedule it last minute, throwing off your whole months plan!).
Things that are good to schedule ahead of time are:
Doctors' appointments (GP, Specialists, Dentists, Optometrist etc.)
Dinners with friends and family
Date nights
Home maintenance - checking the batteries in your devices, cleaning the insides (filters etc.) of your appliances, cleaning your gutters etc.
Financial advisor and Accountant meetings
Hair and beauty appointments
Car servicing
Vet visits (if you have a pet)
Parent Teacher meetings (if you have children).
Organise Your Emails
If you ever feel overwhelmed by the number of emails you receive each day, if you ever struggle to keep your inbox clean and organised, you're not alone. Many people find email management to be a stressful and time-consuming task. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Some simple and effective strategies to organise your emails once a month are below, and trust me, it will make your life easier and happier.
Set up 'rules' for common emails
Use categories; for example, 'to be actioned by xx', 'bills' or 'urgent'
Use Pre-Written Templates (email signatures)
Unsubscribe from Irrelevant Newsletters
Delegate wherever, and whenever, you can!
Organise Your Photos and Videos
I try and do this monthly but occasionally it gets stretched out to bi-monthly. In the digital age we live in we are saving more and more things online, on our mobiles, on hard drives etc. and we need to be able to come back to these spots to find what we need later. If you don't automatically move things to albums, add tags or categories that's understandable - sometimes you are just in the moment and the last things you are thinking of is "I should really organise and categorise right now" BUT it is really handy to come back to these places on a semi-regular basis to do this to help make everything easy to find later.
If someone's birthday is coming up and I need a good photo of me with them to post online or send to them, I know I can go to my mobile, search the album or tag related to that person and find the perfect photo (quite quickly I might add)!
Try getting into the habit of making a folder/album for people you know you take photos of often. In a similar fashion, make computer folders for things you know are common/reoccurring like utility bills, house maintenance (like plumbing invoices), bank statements etc. so you can file things as soon as you get them in the folder/category they relate to - making it a lot easier to find in the future!
Final Thoughts!
As a new month is close to starting why not try making your own start of month checklist now- start small and add things to your list as you think of them each month. Get organised and set yourself up for success!
Stock up on essentials to avoid last-minute scrambles. Keep an eye out for specials; they're not just savings, they're your new best friends in budgeting. Review your recurring payments; ensure your bills are in check and still within your financial comfort zone, and don't hesitate to hunt for better deals or discounts. Arrange your appointments and meetings in advance, setting reminders to keep you on track. Tidy up your digital life by organising your emails and decluttering your virtual photo albums, adding tags and categories for easy navigation. Tackle the weeks ahead with confidence and calm knowing you have your checklist ready to action for a smooth and productive month.
Do you already have a start of month checklist? What items do you have on yours, and why? Leave a comment below this blog post, I'd love to hear all about it!
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