BANKING:

Put your savings on autopilot

There is less to think about when you transfer cash automatically to savings and investing accounts.

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Instructions:

Total time: three minutes.

Set up credit card payment alerts

Those $39 late fees add up. In 2009, banks collected more than $19 billion from procrastinating cardholders.

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Instructions:

Total time: seven minutes, including registering the accounts.

Stop bouncing checks and paying nuisance fees

Charges can be as high as $38 for each time you overdraw your account. Banks raked in $38 billion from such fees in 2009.

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Instructions:

Most banks also let you sign up for an alert that warns you when your balance approaches a specified level.

If you need to open the account you’re linking to, a bank representative may call later.

Total time: 11 minutes to sign up for both the alert and the linked account.

IDENTITY THEFT AND CREDIT MONITORING:

Get your credit scores

Good scores and a good credit history can get you a great loan rate. A bad record could keep you from getting one at all.

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Each bureau gives you the option to get a credit score (for $7.95) with each report (free every 12 months).

Total time: 13 minutes.

Correct your credit record

An erroneous entry, such as a debt in collection, could cause your score to drop by 100 points.

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Instructions: Read through each report, noting any negative items. If you’ve just gotten a report, you’ll see a link to start a dispute of any errors. Otherwise, each credit bureau’s website (TransUnion, Experian and Equifax) provides a link.

If the error started with the company reporting it, go to the source of the problem.

Total time: 15 minutes to initiate a complaint; resolution will take longer.

Copy everything in your wallet (except the cash)

If your wallet is lost or stolen, suspending accounts and getting replacement cards will be far easier.

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Instructions:

Total time: three minutes.

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