10 easy ways to get your financial life in order during your lunch break

By law, the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — must give you a free copy of your file every 12 months.

At the onset of the pandemic, the bureaus made it even easier for consumers to view their credit history by offering free weekly credit reports. Although the offer was supposed to sunset last year, the bureaus permanently extended it.

Go to the official site where you can get your reports free — annualcreditreport.com — and make sure there isn’t something in your file that shouldn’t be there.

If you’re worried about your information being compromised by data breaches, freeze your credit. This prevents swindlers from accessing your credit report without your permission, making it harder for them to take out loans or open new credit cards in your name. Just note that you need to request a credit freeze, which is also called a security freeze, at each of the three bureaus.

How rich are you?

You probably don’t think you’re prosperous. So let me ask this question another way: Do you know how much you’re worth?

We keep score of so many things.

Many people have never calculated their personal net worth. Instead, they measure their financial success by how much they earn each year.

However, a net worth statement gives you a bigger-picture view of your financial health.

List your assets — money in bank accounts, the market value of your home and car, and the value of your investments. Then, list all your liabilities — mortgage, auto loan, credit card balances, student loans and outstanding tax debt.

Subtract your liabilities from your assets to determine your personal net worth.