December has a peculiar energy to it. Between the fairy lights and the existential dread of another year vanishing, there’s this small window where you can actually fix things. Not big, dramatic life changes, just the quiet satisfaction of closing loops you didn’t realise were still open. Here is your year-end checklist that will make you feel like you’ve got your life together, even if you’re surviving on Maggi.

1. Review your subscriptions

Remember that streaming service you signed up for to watch one series and never cancelled? Now’s the time to be ruthless. Go through your bank statements and hunt down those sneaky monthly charges. You’ll be surprised how quickly these add up. Cancel what you don’t need, and put that money towards something you’ll actually appreciate in the new year.

2. Sort out your finances properly

Financial housekeeping isn’t exactly thrilling, but the future you will be grateful. Check your SIPs and other investments you might have. If you have been on autopilot with your expenses, grab the reins. It doesn’t look big, but those ₹200 orders add up over a year. Go through your Swiggy, Zomato, and Blinkit to figure out how much you’re spending on groceries, ordering in, and unnecessary packets of chips just to meet the minimum price requirement.

Related: 8 Money Mistakes You Should Avoid In Your 20s For A Financially Secure Life

3. Book those damn health checkups

This is one of the most important things on your year-end checklist. Before the year ends, book appointments for all those health checkups you’ve been putting off. This includes your full body checkup, any vaccines you need, especially the HPV vaccine, if you still haven’t gotten a shot. Your body has carried you through another year; give it the care it deserves.

Related: 7 Medical Tests All Women Must Take To Ensure A Healthy, Happy Life

4. Have a conversation with your inbox

Your email inbox is basically a to-do list that other people can add to. Right now, it probably contains 4,782 unread messages, 600 of which are newsletters you never wanted. Declare email bankruptcy. Unsubscribe from everything during one brutal session (use a tool like Unroll.me if you’re feeling efficient). Set up filters so that the future you doesn’t inherit this mess.

5. Audit your digital graveyard

You know those 3,000 photos on your phone? The ones where 600 are nearly identical shots of the same sunset? Delete them. While you’re at it, clear out your downloads folder, and delete old apps you haven’t opened in months. And your important files deserve better than living on a single device, one coffee spill away from disaster. Set aside an afternoon to back everything up to an external hard drive or cloud storage. Also, when did you last clear your browser cache? Do it.

6. Review your insurance policies

When did you last check if you’re getting good value on your health insurance, car insurance, or life insurance? Loyalty rarely pays in the insurance game as insurers often hike up renewal prices, hoping you won’t notice. Spend an hour comparing quotes online. While you’re at it, make sure your policies actually reflect your current circumstances.

7. Create a ‘not to buy’ list

Before the January sales seduce you with their “70% OFF!” siren song, write down what you definitely don’t need. This list can include more books you won’t read, more gym clothes, mugs with sarcastic slogans etc. Stick this list on your phone. Consult it when the sales start screaming at you.

8. Create an ‘enough’ inventory

This sounds hippyish, but bear with me. Walk through your home and actually count things. Most people discover they have 17 of something and zero of something else they actually need. You’d be surprised how much money you waste replacing things you already own but can’t find.

9. Have a ‘loose ends’ blitz

That lamp you’ve been meaning to fix for eight months, the tap that’s still leaking, and the door that squeaks when everyone in the house is asleep. None of these tasks takes more than 20 minutes, but collectively, they create this low-level mental static that drains your energy. Pick a Saturday, make a list, and systematically annihilate every single one.

10. Write a ‘things I’m not bringing into 2026’ letter

This is the cathartic bit. Write down everything you’re leaving behind: toxic relationships, self-criticism, pretending to enjoy things because you think you should, and guilt about past mistakes. You don’t have to burn it dramatically (though you can if you want), just acknowledge that some things have an expiry date, and that date is December 31, 2025.

11. Plan something to look forward to

Dull days don’t feel like a burden when you have something exciting planned for the future. So, give yourself a reason to be excited about the coming months. Book a weekend away, buy tickets to a concert or show, or simply schedule regular meet-ups with friends. Anything that floats your boat works. Having something concrete in your diary gives you something to anticipate once the “new year, new me” enthusiasm fades.

The end of the year doesn’t require a complete life overhaul, but ticking off a quick year-end checklist creates a sense of completion and control. Future you, scrolling through your bank statement next December, will definitely approve.

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Related: Life Lessons I Learnt In 2025 That Have Made Me More Comfortable And Nonchalant

FAQs

Q1. What financial documents should I organise before year-end? 

Gather investment proofs, medical bills, rent receipts, home loan statements, and  the latest Form 16 for smooth tax filing in the new financial year.

Q2. How do I check if I’m paying for subscriptions I don’t use? 

Review your credit card and UPI transaction history for recurring payments like OTT platforms, apps, and memberships you’ve forgotten about.

Q3. When should I book preventive health checkups? 

Book in December or early January when diagnostic centres often offer discounts, and it helps you start the year with a health baseline.

Q4. How can I track my financial goals better? 

Use apps like Money View, ET Money, or simple Excel sheets to monitor expenses, investments, and progress towards savings targets.

Q5. Should I prepay loans before the financial year ends? 

If you have surplus funds, prepaying home or personal loans can reduce interest burden and provide tax benefits under Section 80C and 24(b).