Money Matters: You’ve almost made it. Another year of rising grocery prices, unexpected school fees, and more Amazon boxes than you care to admit.

When december arrives most people will be to busy panic-wrapping gifts and bingeing peppermint mochas to think about the budget, but thats what makes you different.

Its the perfect window to reset your money game.

Before the calendar flips, you can do a few small things to tie up loose ends, stop silent budget leaks, and set your family up to win in 2026 — without adding more to your plate.

Let’s walk through 5 fast, family-friendly moves to end the year strong (and way less broke).

Here is what on that portioned plate today:

• 🧠 The 5-Step Year-End Financial Checkup

• 💸 How to Stop Leaking Money in the Background

• 🎯 A Mini Checklist for Dads and Moms to Act Fast

• 📎 Favorite tools to make this stupid-easy

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Today’s Main Event

The 5-Step Year-End Financial Checkup (That Actually Helps)

Step 1: Spot the Leaks — Budget vs. Reality
Before you crack open the eggnog, it’s time to do one (quick) uncomfortable thing: compare what you planned to spend in 2025 with what actually happened.

• Look back at your spending by category — groceries, gas, eating out, Amazon.

• Don’t aim for perfection. Just circle anything that looks bloated or “Oops-y.”

• Bonus tip: Grab your favorite highlighter and go wild. It makes it less painful.

👉 The goal isn’t to beat yourself up — it’s to name the leaks before they flood next year.

💡 Tool Tip: Apps like EveryDollar or Monarch Money can help you auto-tag spending for faster review.

Step 2: Do the Subscription Purge
Somewhere right now, a family of four is paying for Netflix, Max, Hulu, Disney+, Paramount+, Spotify, YouTube Premium, and that one app they got for a free trial in July and forgot.

Don’t be that family.

• Go through your bank statement and list out ALL recurring subscriptions.

• Ask: Did we use this in the last 30 days?

• Cancel everything that doesn’t pass the test.

According to a 2024 Rocket Money report, the average family wastes $396/year on unused subscriptions. That’s almost one month of groceries.

Step 3: Maximize Your Year-End Bonus (or Side Hustle Money)
If you get any kind of holiday bonus or extra gig money, don’t let it melt into the Christmas chaos.

Instead:

• Make an extra debt payment to knock down high-interest bills.

• Or stash a chunk in your emergency fund before January hits.

• Or split it: 50% toward debt/savings, 50% for a guilt-free “freedom splurge.”

🎁 Pro move: Label the money before you spend it. Even $200 can make a big dent when given a job.

Step 4: Use Up FSA Funds (or Lose Them)
If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) through your job, now’s the time to act. Most FSA funds expire Dec 31 if you don’t use them.

In 2023 alone, Americans forfeited $4.5 billion in unused FSA money — yes, billion.

Use it on:

• Prescription glasses or contacts

• Over-the-counter meds

• First aid kits

• Therapy or counseling

• Eligible dental/vision visits

🧾 FSAstore.com makes it easy to shop by what qualifies.

Step 5: Set a Tiny 2026 Goal (and Name It Out Loud)
Don’t wait till January to start your 2026 goals.

Instead, pick one thing to save for next year — a trip, a camp fund, a new couch — and start a jar, envelope, or digital savings bucket now.

Why?

Because naming your goal before the year flips makes it feel real. And every time you drop $5 in that jar, your brain goes, “We’re doing this.”

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family tip: Let the kids help decorate the jar. Call it something fun like “Florida or Bust” or “The Couch That Hugs Us Back.”

✅ Wrap-Up Checklist

Here’s your mini December checklist — print it, tape it to the fridge, and knock ‘em down.

✔️ Review 2025 spending vs. budget — circle 2 areas to fix
✔️ Cancel any unused subscriptions
✔️ Use FSA funds before the deadline
✔️ Decide what to do with any bonus/extra cash
✔️ Name and label a 2026 family savings goal

Even if you only do 3 of the 5 steps — you’ll still head into 2026 with less stress and more clarity.

Until Next Time

What’s Up Next Week

Next week, we’re jumping into “Surviving Paycheck Uncertainty During Government Shutdowns”

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Peace out Hootsquad,
Nico & The MoneyHoot Crew

DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.