5 Ways to Save Money This Fall
Each season, people look for ways to save more money than they did the previous season. Luckily, there are tons of ways to avoid overspending and grow your savings account. Here are my top five ways to save this fall.
Budget for the Holidays
The last quarter of the year is often the time we spend the most money. There are numerous holidays that require us to spend exorbitant amounts of cash, so budgeting is huge. Create a list of people you need to buy gifts for, or for holiday meals and other activities. Then, figure out how much you’ll have to spend on everything. Once you have your grand total for the holidays, split it up based off of importance. Buying your mom a thoughtful gift is more important than buying your third cousin twice removed a gift card they may or may not use. Cut out any unnecessary expenses, and consider ways you can reduce gift costs (such as going in on gifts with other people). Then, stick to it. A budget is worthless if you don’t follow it, so stay strict with yourself, unless you can make up for the overspending by cutting back somewhere else. That being said, if you do switch around your budget, get it in writing. People are better at sticking to a budget when it is physically in front of them.
Make Your Own Coffee Drinks
Pumpkin spice lattes and peppermint mochas are enticing, but they are easily replicated at home. If you’re the kind of person who can’t go without a cappuccino, consider buying an espresso machine with a steam wand. It may cost you a lot up front, but consider the hundreds of dollars you could save, especially if espresso is a daily ritual. You can also buy flavored syrups to get that pumpkin spice, peppermint, or hazelnut flavor right at home.
Evaluate Your Bills
Every year we spend too much on the basic necessities: phone plans, internet, car insurance, and our utilities. Reevaluate how much you’re spending on these areas, and consider calling your providers to ask for a better deal. Quite often, you can haggle your way down a couple of dollars, which will add up in the long run. You can also look into any recurring charges hooked to your cards or bank account and determine whether or not they are worth it. For instance, you may not need cable if you have Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. You also might want to get rid of a gym membership and consider starting a new activity, such as running, which would save time and money.
DIY Decorations with Pinterest
Decorating is one of the best parts of fall. However, decorations in stores are often overpriced, so I suggest you DIY your home. Buying small pumpkins and spray-painting them is one great way to stretch your money. You can also create wooden signs or ornaments using supplies from a thrift store. Just go to Pinterest and search “DIY fall decorations” and you’ll have plenty of ideas to choose from.
Make Large Batches of Food
Overspending on food is easy, but there’s a simple way to avoid this. Meal prep for the entire week or even make soups, applesauce, and more to freeze for later in the year. When sealed properly, you can go months between cooking and eating, so look up guides on how to best preserve freshness.
If you’re looking for ways to avoid overspending this fall, try these five tips and watch your wallet grow.
Originally posted on FerhanPatel.com
