top of page
Search

CFO Corner Week 4: Build Your 2026 Money Calendar in 10 Minutes

Updated: 4 days ago


money calendar


Welcome to CFO Corner - your 10-minute weekly money check-in! This week, we're building something that's going to save you so much stress for the rest of 2026: your money calendar. This isn't another complicated budget or spreadsheet you'll never use. It's a simple visibility tool that shows you when money moves in and out of your life - so you're never caught off guard by bills, annual expenses, or cash flow gaps.


In less than 10 minutes, you'll set up a system that prevents missed payments, eliminates financial surprises, and gives you confidence to make money decisions all year long. Meghan walks you through each step in real time, so you can build your money calendar as you listen.



What You'll Learn in This Episode About Money Calendars


Why a Money Calendar Matters

  • How a money calendar prevents missed payments and reduces financial stress

  • Why early in the year is the perfect time to set this up

  • What makes this different from budgeting or expense tracking

  • How this builds on the awareness work from earlier CFO Corner episodes


What a Money Calendar Actually Is


What this is NOT:

  • Not a detailed budget

  • Not about tracking every dollar you spend

  • Not another complicated spreadsheet


What this IS:

  • A simple visibility tool to see when money moves in and out

  • Shows when you're getting paid and when bills are due

  • Reminds you about annual expenses before they hit

  • Gives you visual overview of cash flow so you're never caught off guard

  • Helps you see if you'll have cash flow available BEFORE you need it


Step-by-Step: Build Your Money Calendar


Meghan guides you through five simple steps:


Step 1: Add All Your Paydays

  • Mark when money is coming in (biweekly, monthly, irregular income)

  • Label them simply: "Pay day," "Income," or even just "$"

  • Do this for the entire year


Step 2: Add Regular Bill Due Dates Add monthly bills like:

  • Rent or mortgage payment

  • Utilities (electric, gas, water, internet)

  • Credit card payments (all cards if you have multiple)

  • Car payment, student loans

  • Childcare, gym membership

  • Any regular recurring expenses


Remember: Progress over perfection. Estimate dates and update later if needed.


Step 3: Add Annual or Irregular Expenses ⭐ This step saves the most stress! Add expenses that come once or twice a year:

  • Insurance renewals (car, home, renters, life)

  • Annual subscriptions (Amazon Prime, Costco, professional memberships)

  • Property taxes (if you own property)

  • HOA fees (quarterly or annual)

  • Big events you know about (weddings, trips)


Pro tip: Pair this with sinking funds to save for these expenses throughout the year (see related episode in resources)


Step 4: Add Important Tax Dates Key dates to mark:

  • April 15: Tax filing deadline

  • October 15: Extended deadline (if needed)

  • Quarterly estimated tax payments if self-employed: April 15, June 15, September 15, January 15


Step 5: Add Your Financial Goals (Optional but powerful!)

  • Monthly savings milestones (e.g., "$300 to emergency fund")

  • Goal achievement dates with celebration emojis

  • Automated transfer reminders to stay motivated


Why This Helps All Year


Four major benefits:

  1. Fewer surprises – See expenses coming weeks in advance, never get caught without cash on hand

  2. Easier cash flow planning – Spot when multiple bills hit the same week and plan ahead

  3. More confident money decisions – Know exactly what's coming before saying yes to trips, purchases, or commitments

  4. Better future planning – See patterns, identify where you need buffers, plan for what matters


How to Maintain It


Good news: This is LOW maintenance!

  • Review once a month or once a quarter (during your regular money check-in)

  • Update only when something changes (30 seconds)

  • Use it as a tool for overall financial check-ins

  • High impact, low effort



What You Just Accomplished

In less than 10 minutes, you built a tool your future self will use all year long: ✓ No more missed payments ✓ No more surprise annual expenses ✓ More clarity and less financial stress ✓ Confidence in your money decisions

This is exactly what CFO Corner is about: One action. One week. One step forward.


Resources:

bottom of page