Fall has a way of sneaking up on us.

One minute, you're squeezing in the last few weekends of summer. The next, calendars are packed, football is back, the holidays are around the corner, and somehow the end of the year doesn't feel very far away.

Before things get really busy, September is a great time to do something your future self will appreciate:

Give your finances a quick fall cleanup.

We're not talking about completely overhauling your budget or giving up everything fun for the rest of the year.

Just a few small moves now that could make the months ahead a whole lot easier.

Start With the Last 30 Days

You don't need a complicated spreadsheet to understand where your money is going.

Start by looking at your recent transactions.

What surprised you?

Maybe groceries have gotten more expensive. Maybe summer brought more dinners out, weekend trips or activities than usual. Or maybe you're still paying for a subscription you forgot you had.

Look for three things:

What do I have to spend?
Mortgage or rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance and other essentials.

What do I choose to spend?
Restaurants, shopping, entertainment, subscriptions and other flexible expenses.

What am I spending without really noticing?
This is usually where things get interesting.

You don't necessarily have to cut anything. The goal is simply to make sure where your money is going still matches where you want it to go.

Old Hickory's mobile banking also includes Money Matters, which members can use to build a budget and track spending. 

Take Inventory of Your Debt

Next up: the money going out every month to pay for things you've already purchased.

Make a quick list of your:

• Credit cards
• Auto loans
• Personal loans
• Home equity debt
• Other outstanding balances

Write down the balance, interest rate and monthly payment for each.

Then ask:

Is there anything here I could be paying more efficiently?

For example, if your financial situation or credit has improved since you financed your vehicle, it may be worth comparing your existing auto loan with current refinancing options.

Don't look exclusively at the monthly payment, though. Compare the interest rate, remaining term and overall cost of the loan before making a change.

Give the Holidays Their Own Budget — Now

We know. It's September.

But that's exactly why we're talking about the holidays.

Think about what November and December usually bring:

• Gifts.
• Travel.
• Food.
• Parties.
• Decorations.
• School activities.
• Charitable giving.
• Family outings.

Come up with a realistic estimate of what you expect to spend.

Then divide that amount by the number of paychecks you have before you'll need the money.

Want to have $800 available and have eight paychecks to get there?

That's $100 per paycheck.

It's much easier to find $100 several times than $800 all at once.

And if $100 doesn't comfortably fit into your budget, that's useful information too. You have time to adjust your holiday spending plan before you're standing in a checkout line in December.

Build Your “Something Happened” Fund

The holidays aren't the only expenses coming.

Cars break. Appliances quit. Kids get sick. Homes need repairs. And life has a remarkable ability to send an unexpected expense at exactly the wrong time.

If you don't have an emergency fund yet, don't get discouraged by advice telling you that you immediately need several months of living expenses saved. Start smaller.

Get to $250.

Then $500.

Then $1,000.

Then keep going.

The first goal is simply creating enough breathing room that every unexpected expense doesn't automatically have to become credit card debt.

Put Idle Money to Work

While you're looking at your savings, ask another question:

Is my money sitting in the right place?

Your everyday spending money needs to be easily accessible. Your emergency savings needs to be available when you need it. But money you don't expect to touch for a while may have other options.

For example, certificates generally involve committing money for a specific period in exchange for a stated return. Money market accounts may be another option depending on how much you're keeping in savings and how accessible you want it to be.

The important thing isn't chasing every rate you see.

It's making sure your account matches what you're asking the money to do.

Do a Five-Minute Fraud Checkup, Too

There's one more piece of financial housekeeping that's especially important right now.

Protect what you've already earned.

Take five minutes to:

• Review recent transactions.
• Make sure your contact information is current.
• Use unique passwords for financial accounts.
• Enable available account alerts.
• Know how to lock your card if it goes missing. 

And remember: a familiar number on your caller ID doesn't automatically mean a familiar person is calling.

If something feels wrong, hang up and contact Old Hickory directly using a number you know is legitimate.

Pick Three Things Before October

Here's your fall financial cleanup challenge.

Before September is over, choose three:

One thing to STOP.
A subscription, expense or financial habit that isn't doing much for you.

One thing to START.
An automatic savings transfer, holiday fund, extra debt payment or another positive habit.

One thing to CHECK.
Your credit report, auto loan, savings rate, insurance coverage or another part of your financial life you haven't reviewed lately.

That's it.

You don't have to transform your finances in a month.

You just have to leave September in a slightly better position than you entered it.

Finish the Year Feeling Good About Your Money

The last few months of the year are meant to be enjoyed.

Football games. Fall weekends. Family gatherings. Holidays. Traditions. Time with the people you care about.

A little financial planning now isn't about taking the fun out of those things.

It's about making it easier to enjoy them without worrying about the bill later.

So take an hour. Look at your money. Make a few decisions. Put a little aside for what's coming.

And if you discover something you want help figuring out, talk to Old Hickory.

Because a financial cleanup is a whole lot easier when you don't have to do it alone.