Ah . . . spring.

Just the image of baseball's cracking against the bat, barbecues being stoked up, and green grass as far as the eye can see is enough to melt the coldest heart.

Spring also means cleaning. And around this blog, that means cleaning up your money life.

"Spring is a great time to sort through financial paperwork such as bank statements, savings account information, credit card bills and the like, as many consumers are in 'cleaning mode'," says Ann Estes, vice president of client educations at the financial advisory firm ClearPoint Financial Solutions. "By conducting spring cleaning on their finances and starting with the paper, they can determine how to realize certain financial goals, such as purchasing a new home or car, or planning a family vacation."

Here are some tips to get your financial house in order this April:

� Sweep up the paper. -- If you are constantly bombarded with financial paperwork, whether it be ATM statements, mortgage information, utility bills or credit card statements, you know how difficult it can be to keep track of financial matters. The paperwork can quickly pile up, making it increasingly difficult to organize account information, debt obligations and household budgets. By knowing what to keep and what to throw away, you can maintain organization over your financial situation and continue to move toward your financial goals.

The following items can be tossed, or better yet, shredded (to protect identity) once they've been accounted for or entered into a budget spreadsheet:

ATM statements
Deposit slips
Utility/Phone/Cable bills
Sales receipts

Keep the following items in a safe place, such as a filing cabinet or fireproof safe:

Wills/Passports/Marriage and birth certificates
Social Security cards (It is recommended that you do not carry your Social
Security card in your wallet.)
Tax returns and W2 information
Mortgage loan information, including statements bearing tax information
Receipts for tax-deductible items, such as charitable donations
Receipts and warranty information for large purchases, such as household
appliances
Investment paperwork such as 401k, IRA or other savings plans
Credit Card contracts

For additional safekeeping, you may consider saving electronic copies of such documents, in case something should ever happen to the original copy. Once you've sorted through the paperwork, take some time to review your current financial situation and look for ways to maximize your household income.

� Refine spending habits -- Spring is a great time to adopt new habits and reorganize or refine those that may need changing. To take charge of your financial situation, review your current spending habits; where is your money going each month? Track weekly or monthly spending, such as utility bills, groceries, gas, credit card payments, etc. By doing this, you may find ways to cut back spending. Start by focusing on the necessities, such as rent/mortgage and household utilities, credit card payments and savings. Or, you may determine that while you are on a good financial track, you may have money left over that can be put towards additional savings or debt reduction.

� Evaluate (or Reorganize) your budget. -- Once you've determined your current expenses, review your current household budget to make sure you are on the track to achieving your financial goals. If you don't have a household budget, now is the time to create one. Again, document regular monthly expenses, such as rent/mortgage, household utilities, car payments, car insurance and credit card bills and consider setting up automatic payments.

� Dust off credit by cleaning up debt. An important step in achieving financial security is to establish and maintain good credit. If you carry balances on one or more credit card accounts, you need to know how much is owed, when payments are due, and what finance charges exist. It's critical to pay on time, and preferably pay more than the minimum payment due. Missed or late payments can result in costly late fees, higher interest rates and negative notes on your credit report. If the balances are overwhelming and you are unable to keep up with the payments, it may be time to seek professional assistance.

� Polish savings -- Spring is a time for growth, and provides a great opportunity to feed your savings account and watch the balance bloom. If you currently have a savings plan in place, keep it up, and consider contributing even more to watch the balance continue to grow. If you are not currently putting any money towards savings, even just a few dollars each month can make a big difference.

� Maintain regular upkeep -- Lastly, putting good financial practices in place is vital, but it's equally important to keep up with the plan, and regularly pay bills, balance the checkbook and monitor the budget. Once you have a system in place, regularly monitor spending and household budgets. As situations change, it may be necessary to make adjustments, particularly if there is a rise or decline in income or if your are faced with a major expense such as a car or home repair.