Written by Cloud Spurlock, Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board | April 9, 2021

Before your first paycheck from your very first job hit your bank account, you may have heard the good advice to “pay yourself first.” Of course, that didn’t mean you should go out and buy whatever what-have-you was on your wish list. Instead, it meant you needed to set aside money for someone else—someone who may as well have been a perfect stranger at the time—your future self.

You probably do routine maintenance on your car – get the oil changed, filters checked, and have the tires rotated. And you probably make sure you go to the doctor and have a physical every year or so. But do you ever take the time to do a financial well-check?

Is it really that time of year again? I admit it: I dread tax season. I hate gathering my paperwork, tracking down my W2, making sure I have all my interest and dividend statements. Taxes will never be something I enjoy, but at least I can be prepared. Here are five things to help get you ready for this year’s tax season. 

Last fall, we talked about the payroll tax deferral that affected most military members and many federal employees. The deferral equated to a four-month, 6.2% increase in pay. But the catch was that it was just a temporary boost and needed to be repaid in 2021. Well, the time to repay those taxes has arrived, and here is what you need to know before the first pay period of the year.

The federal government has started sending out the second round of stimulus checks (more formally called Economic Impact Payments). These may be the final round of payments to go out, so having a plan in place is key.

Previously, we’ve told you about things to ask yourself before you spend your stimulus check, and we’ve given you a decision tree to help you make spending choices that are right for your situation. Now we’re giving you ten ideas for this next – and possibly last – payment.