# Stuff you do to close out the year/ start the next one? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 1, 2026, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-do-to-close-out-the-year-start-the-next-one/1026228 "2026-01-01T04:34:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-do-to-close-out-the-year-start-the-next-one/1026228/1 "2026-01-01T04:34:43Z")
I finish my Excel spreadsheet for my bank balance and prep the one for the upcoming year. I also make sure any notes on my calendar/ monthly planner carry over into the new year. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-do-to-close-out-the-year-start-the-next-one/1026228/2 "2026-01-01T04:39:41Z")
Just putting up my Gary Patterson cat calendar. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-do-to-close-out-the-year-start-the-next-one/1026228/3 "2026-01-01T05:14:41Z")
I’m no longer at the bottom of my long twelve-month mental wall calendar, I have imagined myself back up at the top for the new year. [![](https://content.etilize.com/images/900/11958005.jpg) ](https://content.etilize.com/images/900/11958005.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-do-to-close-out-the-year-start-the-next-one/1026228/4 "2026-01-01T05:24:35Z")
When I hear the sirens of the local emergency vehicles driving through the town at midnight I wave at them from my door and sometimes blink my porch lights. They will give me a loud honk as they pass. Next morning I change my calendars. My family makes sauerkraut and hot dogs. If I visit I might have one. So much snow tonight - not sure if I will make it out tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-do-to-close-out-the-year-start-the-next-one/1026228/5 "2026-01-01T12:55:54Z")
What is this paper calendar you keep talking about? I haven’t had or needed a paper calendar for at least 30 years now. My iPhone’s Google Calendar has everything I need to keep track of, including monthly, weekly, and even daily reminders. Save a tree. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-do-to-close-out-the-year-start-the-next-one/1026228/6 "2026-01-01T13:11:02Z")
Much the same, I make a copy of last year’s financial spreadsheet and update it for the coming year. The old calendars come down and the new ones go up. I have one in my office which has birthdays on it - although I don’t send many paper cards these days, there are some people who still get one. The other calendar goes in the kitchen and has the rubbish collection schedule on it, and any events that we have booked. I do have all of the event info in a shared Google calendar but since I don’t carry my phone around all the time, it’s useful to have that visual reminder hanging on the noticeboard with all the gig and festival tickets! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-do-to-close-out-the-year-start-the-next-one/1026228/7 "2026-01-01T14:24:22Z")
Never really anything. But since I just retired, I’m going to start a spread sheet of our finances. I’m still waiting on some monies from other investmets to be transfered to me from work. I do have a financial advisor, but their site only shows monthly gains and lose. I want it more granular than that. Daily. It’s work for me, but I’m on the computer every day anyway… I think such a thing will help us budget through our retirement. We’ll see. I’ll probably just blow it off. I’m retired, but kinda busy. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-do-to-close-out-the-year-start-the-next-one/1026228/8 "2026-01-01T15:48:43Z")
I still get billed/pay bills on paper. Each January I retire the manila folders with the statements and receipts and such for gas/electric/cable/repairs/etc and set up new ones for the upcoming year. Then I toss the oldest year’s folders. I also calculate my net worth as of Jan. 1. Just to get a feel on how it’s trending over the years, and try to decide what changes I need to make. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-do-to-close-out-the-year-start-the-next-one/1026228/9 "2026-01-01T15:55:39Z")
I like having paper calendars especially to combine my work and personal appointments. I also love the visual impact of them hanging above my desk at home and work. A quick glance orients me to day and date. I don’t like using my phone for calendar organization. Too difficult to see a lot of what’s available. Everyone’s different.