George Kamel: Avoiding These 11 Money Tasks Will Leave You Broke
A December 2025 Intuit survey found that 61% of Americans considered money their main source of stress, and 93% planned to manage their money differently in 2026.
But knowing what financial changes will matter can be difficult, and taking on big tasks too soon can leave you demotivated. That's why it helps to focus on small money tasks that can make the difference between being financially stable and struggling.
In a recent video, money expert George Kamel suggested completing these 11 money tasks, most of which will take you an hour or less.
Check Out: 5 Money Tasks To Tackle Right Now To Lower Your Tax Bill
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Checking Your Credit Report
While he's not a big fan of credit scores, Kamel explained that it's still important to review your credit report so you can spot potential identity theft, account issues or errors to report or dispute.
AnnualCreditReport.com offers free weekly credit reports from the three bureaus. You might also have access to your credit report and score through your bank, credit card company or an online monitoring service.
Auditing Subscriptions
Whether you forgot to cancel free trials or still subscribe to services you haven't used in months, you're likely paying for unnecessary subscriptions. Even one could be wasting $100 per year.
So, Kamel advised, "Take 10 minutes to look at every recurring charge on your bank statement and cancel everything you haven't used in 30 days."
Calculating Your Debt
While facing your debt can be scary, knowing your balances is important for assessing your situation and developing a payoff plan that saves you money and reduces your stress.
Kamel recommended identifying all loans, credit cards and payment plans, which your credit report review should help with. You can then create a spreadsheet of each account name, number and balance for easy tracking and calculation.
Paying Off Your Lowest Debt
Paying off debt can seem intimidating, especially if you have huge balances. To build some momentum, Kamel suggested paying down your smallest debt, which you might already have cash for.
You can later use the debt snowball method to pay off your other consumer debts from smallest to largest. Kamel encouraged using this debt snowball calculator to see the potential results.
Rolling Over Your Old 401(k)
It's not uncommon to forget about a 401(k) account from an old job, and this oversight can cost you money in fees and low returns.
Kamel advised rolling these funds directly into your current 401(k) or an individual retirement account (IRA) and making sure the accounts are of matched types (traditional or Roth). Otherwise, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) notes you may have taxes withheld for indirect rollovers or owe taxes for rolling traditional funds into a Roth account.
Making a Will
While you might think you don't need a will unless you're old or have a lot of money, Kamel explained that it's essential for anybody 18 years or older and easy to make online. If you don't have one, you're leaving what happens with your assets up to the government, which isn't ideal.
Kamel explained, "The state will make all the decisions for you, and not only is that process expensive and slow, but do you really want to delegate such a big decision to the government?"
Tracking Your Spending
You may be underestimating how much you spend each month on certain expenses, such as food delivery, clothing or online purchases. This makes it difficult to know where to cut back to reach your goals.
Kamel recommended reviewing bank statements or using a budgeting app like EveryDollar. And if you're not doing it already, consider using a zero-based budget to ensure you're allocating income properly to all expenses and goals.
Moving Funds to a High-Yield Savings Account
According to Kamel, you're potentially missing out on hundreds of dollars of interest on cash held in a traditional savings account. These accounts pay a tiny 0.39% national average annual percentage yield (APY), and many banks pay even less.
Instead, put that money in a high-yield savings account with a competitive APY of 4% to 5%. Also, check for important details about deposit insurance, minimum balance requirements, fees and ways to access your cash.
Reviewing Your Insurance
"When something goes wrong, like an unexpected medical bill or a car accident, insurance is the only thing standing between you and a financial dumpster fire," said Kamel. "So, take 30 minutes to look at all of your policies -- health, auto, life, homeowners, renters, all of it."
He recommended updating your policies based on your family's current needs and revisiting your coverage limits and deductibles. You can also get quotes from other insurance companies to find more ways to save.
Getting Routine Car Maintenance
A November 2025 Carfax report indicated that overdue maintenance was an issue for 41% of United States vehicles. Important maintenance includes everything from oil changes and routine inspections to tire rotations and air filter replacements.
While the time and money required for car maintenance can be a pain, Kamel explained that it helps you avoid more expensive issues down the road. He said he uses a sinking fund and saves $50 per month to prepare for the costs.
Decluttering Your Home
Kamel said, "The more stuff you own, the more space it takes, the more money it costs and the more it stresses you out subconsciously or consciously."
To give yourself space and help your finances, consider each item and its condition to determine what to do. While some things may go in the trash, you can likely donate, sell or even return others. After decluttering, you might consider future purchases more carefully, which can also save you money.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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