Easter is that weird pocket of time where everything slows down for a few days.
Work quietens.
Schools close.
The usual routine gets disrupted.
And finally, you might have a minute to think about something other than the relentless reminders of deadlines and commitments.
However – what if you used some of that breathing space to look at your money? I know, you’re thinking “that’s not exactly what I want to do on a long weekend – sit and review my finances…”
We’re about to hit the EOFY sprint. June is chaos. Tax time is stressful. And by the time you get to July, you’ll be buried in receipts and wondering where the year went.
Right now, in April, you’ve got space. Use it.
The Easter Money Reality Check
Think about the last few months. January challenged your bank account. February was recovery mode. March was about getting back on track.
Now it’s April. You’re three months into the year. One quarter done.
So, here’s the question: what do you have to show for it?
I’m not asking this to make you feel bad. I’m asking because it’s useful information. If the year keeps going the way it’s been going, where will you be by December? By next April?
And more importantly – is that where you want to be?
Your Personal Money Health Check
A money health check isn’t complicated. You’re just answering some basic questions about where you’re at financially.
Grab a coffee, open your banking app, and work through these questions honestly.
Question 1: What’s your current financial position?
How much do you have in savings right now?
Not what you wish you had or what you used to have. What’s really there?
How much do you owe?
Credit cards, personal loans, car loans, HECS debt – add it up. Know the number.
What’s your net position?
Savings minus debt = your net financial position. Is it positive or negative? By how much?
This isn’t about judgement. It’s about knowing where you’re starting from.
Question 2: What’s your cashflow pattern?
Do you consistently have money left at the end of each pay cycle?
Or are you scraping by and hoping nothing unexpected happens?
Are you living paycheck to paycheck?
Even if you earn good money, if you’re spending everything that comes in, you’re vulnerable.
Do bills catch you by surprise?
Rego, insurance, rates – these aren’t surprises. They happen every year. If they’re still catching you off guard, that’s a planning problem.
Question 3: What do you actually have to show for your work?
You’ve been working hard. Earning money. Paying bills. Getting by.
But what have you built?
Have you increased your savings since this time last year?
If not, where did the money go?
Have you reduced your debt?
Or has it stayed the same? Or worse, grown?
Have you made progress toward any financial goal?
House deposit, emergency fund, holiday savings, paying off the car – anything?
If you’ve been working for months (or years) and have nothing to show for it financially, that’s not because you’re not earning enough. It’s because money is flowing through your life without you directing where it goes.
Question 4: Are you preparing for your future?
How much is in your super?
Log into your super account and look. When was the last time you checked?
Are you making extra contributions?
Your employer contributes 12%. Are you adding to that?
Do you have life insurance and income protection sorted?
If something happened to you tomorrow, would your family be okay financially?
What’s your plan for retirement?
Not “I’ll figure it out later.” An actual plan.
Most people think retirement planning is something you do when you’re 50. But the decisions you make in your 20s, 30s and 40s make a massive difference to what your retirement looks like.
Why April Is The Perfect Time For This
June is EOFY chaos. Everyone’s scrambling to get receipts together, maximise deductions, and sort out their tax return.
July is recovery mode from June.
August is when you finally look at your tax return and realise you should have planned better.
April? April is calm. Easter gives you breathing space. You’re far enough from Christmas spending to see clearly, but you’ve still got time before EOFY to do something about what you find.
This is your window.
What Forward-Thinking Personal Finance Actually Looks Like
Forward-thinking doesn’t mean having a perfect 10-year plan mapped out in a spreadsheet. It means thinking one step ahead instead of constantly reacting.
It means knowing your quarterly bills are coming and having money set aside for them.
Rego isn’t a surprise. Rates aren’t a surprise. Insurance isn’t a surprise. You know when they’re due. Plan for them. Set up an “annual bills” account, and contribute money into it every pay day.
It means checking your super now instead of at retirement.
Are you in the right fund? Are the fees reasonable? Is your investment option appropriate for your age and risk tolerance?
It means having an emergency fund so unexpected expenses don’t derail everything.
Start with $1,000. Then build to one month of expenses. Then three months. The exact number matters less than the fact that it exists.
This is taking action and making intentional choices about your money, instead of just hoping it works out.
Where do you want to be financially by the end of this year? What needs to happen between now and then to get you there?
Your Easter Action Plan
You don’t need to overhaul your entire financial life over the long weekend, but you can take stock of where you’re at and make a plan for the next few months.
Action 1: Run the numbers (30 minutes)
Answer the four health check questions above. Write down the numbers. Don’t guess, or estimate – look at your accounts and know the facts.
Action 2: Check your super (15 minutes)
Log into your super fund. Look at your balance. Check when you last reviewed your investment option. Make sure your details are up to date.
If you don’t know how to access your super account, find out. If you have multiple accounts from old jobs, consider consolidating them (but check for insurance implications first).
Action 3: Review your tax position (20 minutes)
You’ve got two months until EOFY. Are there any deductions you should be maximising? Work expenses you haven’t claimed? Receipts you need to track down?
If you’re self-employed or have investment properties, are you on top of your quarterly income and record-keeping or do you need to catch up?
Action 4: Set one financial goal for the next three months (10 minutes)
Not five goals. One.
Maybe it’s:
- Build $1,000 emergency fund by June 30
- Pay off $2,000 of credit card debt before EOFY
- Increase super contributions by $50 per month
- Get on top of filing receipts so tax time isn’t chaotic.
Pick one thing that would genuinely improve your financial position and make a plan to do it.
The Question That Matters
Here’s what this all comes down to: if you keep doing exactly what you’re doing with money, where will you be in five years?
Will you have more in savings or less? Will your debt be gone or grown? Will you be closer to financial security or further away?
Your current habits are writing your future financial story. If you don’t like how that story is shaping up, now is the time to change it.
Not in June when you’re stressed about tax. Not in January when you’re recovering from Christmas. Now, when you’ve got breathing space to think clearly and plan properly.
EOFY Is Coming
In two months, it’ll be June. Tax time. Everyone scrambling.
You can be scrambling with them, or you can be prepared.
The difference is what you do right now, in April, when you’ve got space to think.
Need Help Getting Clear on Your Money?
I help Australian households understand their financial position and create a practical plan to improve it.
Check out my packages for different levels of support, or book a free consultation to chat about your specific situation before EOFY hits.
Disclaimer: This information is general in nature and doesn’t take your personal circumstances into account. Always seek professional advice for your specific situation.
