Save Money This Season Without Giving Up Pumpkin Spice
Can you believe there’s only one week left in September? September is one of those months that you either love or you hate. Some people dread September because it means less sunny days and others love the opportunity to decorate and bake for autumn. To me, September represents a time to get serious about my goals, like saving money and sticking to my health and fitness goals. September means financial recovery: recovering from vacations, trips, festivals and taco nights of summer. For those of you with kids, September means a large chunk of change is spent on “back to school” clothes, supplies, and enrollment in afterschool activities. The Holidays seem to always creep up so fast. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to get to December with a chunk of debt on my credit card before holiday shopping even begins. This year I got super strict on budgeting and my finances, and I’m sharing my top 5 tips for serious savings this season.
To start the season off strong, sit down and evaluate your cash flow.
Create a budget that includes all of your expected expenses for the summer and all of the income you anticipate. At the start of each month, take a good look at your budget and decide what you can avoid this season.
More importantly: STICK TO YOUR BUDGET.
Cut costs where possible. Can you cancel a month or two of Spotify Premium in exchange for podcasts that relate to your goals? Say “No” to things that you haven’t budgeted for.
Print out your cash flow worksheet. You’re 10 times more likely to accomplish your goals, or stick to your budget, if you write it down and hang it somewhere you’ll see it daily. I use a cash flow worksheet regularly, and I’m linking it to the right so you can adapt it to your own budget!Do a fall clean-sweep and sell things that have served their purpose.
We accumulate a lot of stuff throughout the year: clothes, decor, accessories and more. Cleaning out your closet shouldn’t just be associated with the start of Spring. There are a few awesome apps that make it easy to sell your clothes and accessories. Once you’ve sold a few items, make a rule that you can ONLY buy things using the money you made selling things. This way, you’re not tapping into your cash flow to fund your purchases! Some great resell apps are Poshmark, LetGo, and Facebook Marketplace.
Order your groceries online.
I recently noticed a ton of my coach friends were ordering their groceries through services like Amazon Pantry, Shipt, and Instacart. Some of them started doing this as a way to avoid the temptation of snacks and treats at the grocery store, others started because it saves them several hours in their schedule. For me, ordering groceries helps me save money. I don’t know about you, but when I walk the aisles of Trader Joes, I suddenly need 3 different flavors of sparkling soda, 2 different types of salsa, and several “healthy” snacks. If I make a list and order online, there’s no temptation to buy the extra stuff. It truly helps me stick to my grocery budget each week!
Do a fall clean-sweep and sell some stuff.
Order your groceries online.
4. Commit to home-cooked meals and nights in.
As a 30-something with a fairly active social life, a lot of the unnecessary money we spend each month is spent on dinner or drinks with friends. Just two dinner and drinks nights per month in San Diego could end up costing over $100. That’s $400 spent by the New Year! For the next month, try to invite friends to hang out at your house, so your social schedule supports your goals! Cook them dinner or host a little potluck for the premiere of the Bachelor. If you have kids, you’ll also save the money you’d have spent on a sitter! Bonus savings!
5. DIY your PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte).
This one seems obvious. We talk about giving up our coffee habit all the time, but how often do we actually listen to ourselves? When fall rolled around, I used to stalk Starbucks waiting for the release of pumpkin-flavored everything. Even If you had only one $5 coffee-shop coffee per week during the fall, you’d have paid a total of $90 by the New Year. Instead, buy yourself locally roasted beans, make “coffee time” part of your morning ritual and save over $75. If you’re like me and have trouble giving up the quintessential taste of fall, consider using the funds on something a bit more wholesome. I chose to reallocate the money I was saving avoiding coffee shops, and invest in a pumpkin-flavored superfood supplement. Pumpkin Shakeology provides me with all the nutrients my body craves: digestive enzymes, adaptogens, and fiber, while still giving me all the warm, wholesome fall vibes.
Commit to home-cooked meals and nights in.
DIY your PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte).
There’s still a week left in September. That means you have a whole week to set yourself up for financial success for the next three months. Implementing just one or two of the tips I gave above could result in big improves in your financial health, come December! I’d love to hear which of these you try, if they work for you, or if you have other tips! Drop a comment below!