As August winds down, that familiar “back to business” energy is in the air. Whether you're shopping for school supplies, wrapping up summer trips, or just feeling the seasonal itch to trade summer chaos for structure, it's the perfect time for a reset – starting with your money.

Enter our 3-part financial fitness challenge. The goal is to get a fresh perspective, a rock-solid budget strategy, and the financial footing you need to achieve your goals.

Ready to buff up your bottom line? Let's start with step one.

Part 1: Warm Up | Track Your Spending

Your first exercise: Get a clear picture of your spending.

1)    Connect your credit card and bank accounts to a free budgeting app like SoFi's, or review your last statement for each account.

2)    Look at how much you spent in each category identified in the app, or if you're doing your own math, get a ballpark for these categories.

3)    Make two columns on a laptop or piece of paper — one for the totals you're happy with, and the other for the ones you know could be lower.

Were you surprised by what you found? Getting a reality check on your spending is a great start.

Part 2: Strength Training | Build Your Budget

Ok, you took a hard look at your spending. Now, it's time to make it count. Just like every new fitness goal requires a personalized workout plan, you need a budget that works for you.

Your second exercise: Zero in on a budgeting method that you'll realistically stick with.

There are many ways to budget your money. One of the most common is the 50-30-20 method, that takes your after-tax income and divides it into three buckets:

•   50% to “must-haves” like rent and food

•   30% to “wants” like eating out and entertainment

•   20% to savings and paying down debt.

To help you get started, use this 50/30/20 calculator. It's like having a personal trainer for your finances.

Part 3: Endurance | Build Your Financial Safety Net

Welcome to the finish line! You've audited your spending and picked your budgeting strategy. To lock it in, it's time for the final piece of the routine: building your safety net.

The final exercise: Contribute to your savings.

Savings gives you a financial buffer that can help you avoid taking on credit card debt if you have a sudden car repair or medical bill — or lose your job.

•   Eventually you'll want to have enough saved to cover three to six months' worth of living expenses, but your initial target should be realistic. It could be as low as $500.

•   Keep the savings in a separate account from your daily checking so you aren't tempted to dip into it.

•   Park your cushion in a high-yield savings account like SoFi's to maximize interest-earning potential. Just make sure there aren't any monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements.

Financial wellness is a marathon, not a sprint. If you completed all three parts of this challenge, take a moment to celebrate! You just took three powerful strides toward improving your financial health — now keep running with it.

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