January

Create a Budget. Estimate expenses and income on a monthly basis. Set a target for savings and investments.
Set up an Emergency Fund if you do not have one. It will help you tide over difficult financial situations
Manage increments and Bonus. Some companies give increments and annual bonus in December/ January. Make sure you don’t spend away everything. Use the extra income to increase investments or put some of it in an emergency fund.
Set up reminders for various financial tasks such as utility payments, insurance premiums, EMIs etc. You can set up automatic payments for important expenses so that you don’t face trouble forgetting payments.

February

Revisit your investment portfolio. Check your investments and their performance. If necessary, reallocate your investments such that the portfolio matches your financial situation.
Ensure all claims and reimbursements that are payable by your employer are raised in time.

March

​March 15th is the last date for last instalment of Advance Tax payment for financial year 2017-18. 
Many of you might be going for holiday trips in May. It will be good to plan and book your holidays in advance to take advantage of better prices and availability.
Link your Aadhaar with PAN if not done as the last date as of now is 31st March, 2018.

April

​Some companies give out increments and bonus in March/April. In that case manage increments and bonuses such that you build your wealth.
Check tax payable by you for financial year 2018-2019 and plan for tax-saving methods. Decide the tax-saving instruments that you need to invest in.
The national financial budget would have been announced in March. Review your portfolio post budget announcements and take steps to make it efficient based on changes due to budget.

May

3rd May is the last date to invest in Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana. It is a scheme for senior citizens above 60 years. If you are planning to invest in it, make sure you do it in time.

June

June 15th is the last date for paying the first instalment of advance tax for 2018-19. 
Get your documentation (Form 16, TDS certificates, Home Loan Interest payment certificates, premium paid receipts, Rent receipts etc.) for filing of taxes in order so that you do not have last minute hassles.

July

File your income tax returns before July 31st. It is an easy process if you have all the paperwork that is used for reference in order.
Pay the additional tax if any.

August

​Check various bills, subscriptions and automatic payments and evaluate if they are valid. If not, make necessary changes so that you are not wasting money.
Check online accounts and their passwords. Change them so that security is intact.

September

Revisit your budget. Compare actual expenses with targets. If you are way off the mark, plan some changes for the next few months so that at the end of the year, you meet your budget.
Review  your investment portfolio and sell off bad investments and acquire good investment instruments.
Take stock of purchases to be made for yourself, family and the house as the festive season starts and there will be offers and discounts.
​September 15th is the last date for paying the second instalment of advance tax for 2018-19.​

October

Plan a budget for the festive season so that you do not go overboard.
Decide on budget for gifts to be given and stick to it.
If you are planning to travel in December, you should plan for them now and book the relevant travel, accommodation and other tickets.

November

​Shop smartly. Do not go overboard on the budget for Diwali and Dhanteras. 

December

​December 15th is the last date for paying the third instalment of advance tax for 2018-19.
Review your budget, financial plan and financial goals planned. Compare with the actual expenditure, savings and investments. Check if you have achieved the financial goals that were targeted for the year.
List down mistakes made, lessons learnt and achievements so that you can learn from your experience in 2018 and utilize that in 2019.