4 Smart Money Moves to Make This Fall

Sarah Brumley

Sarah Brumley

Does it ever feel like fall sneaks up on your wallet? One minute you’re paying for school supplies, the next it’s holiday travel, costumes, and Christmas shopping—and suddenly the credit card balance is higher than you’d like.

In today’s episode, we’re hitting pause for a fall budget reset. I’ll walk you through four simple steps you can take right now to prepare your money for the months ahead—so you can move into the holiday season with less stress and a whole lot more peace.

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4 Smart Money Moves to Make This Fall

Well hey there, friend—and welcome back to the Financial Fix Up Podcast. I’m your host, Sarah Brumley, and I’m so glad you’re here with me today.

If you’re listening in real time, it’s mid-September. The days are still warm where I am, but there’s that little hint of crispness in the air that tells us fall is on the way. Maybe you’ve noticed it, too—the way the mornings are a little cooler, or the fact that pumpkin spice everything has already made its grand appearance.

And with that seasonal shift comes a shift in our schedules, too. The kids are back in school, sports practices and activities are filling up the calendar, work projects are picking up speed, and before we know it—the holidays will be knocking on our doors.

And let’s be honest: if we’re not careful, this season can sneak up on us financially. One moment we’re buying back-to-school supplies, paying for school photos, and signing up for fall sports. And the next moment—we’re looking around wondering how Christmas is somehow already here, and why the credit card balance is higher than we’d like.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely been there—caught in the cycle of “I’ll just figure it out later,” only to realize later has arrived, and it’s stressful, expensive, and overwhelming.

That’s exactly why today we’re talking about a fall budget reset.

Think of it like a seasonal tune-up for your money. Just like you might prep your home for cooler weather—swapping out the summer clothes for sweaters or pulling the blankets out of storage—your finances need a little prep for this season, too.

And the good news? A reset doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s simply your chance to pause, take a look at what’s been happening in your finances, and make a few intentional tweaks so you can head into the rest of the year with confidence and peace.

Step #1: Review Where Your Budget Has Drifted

The first step in a fall budget reset is simply to pause and take an honest look back at what’s been happening with your money.

And if you’re anything like me, summer has a way of shaking things up. The kids are out of school, routines are looser, and there are just so many opportunities to spend. Vacations, ice cream runs, extra gas for road trips, spontaneous outings—it all adds up faster than we expect.

And maybe you had a budget in place, but by July or August, it started to feel like more of a suggestion than a plan. I’ll be honest—our family’s eating-out budget always seems to take a hit in the summer. Between late nights at the ballfield and weekends spent out of the house, sometimes dinner just ends up being drive-thru burgers. And that’s okay—but if I don’t acknowledge it, those little “it’s just this once” meals start stacking up.

So, here’s what I want you to do: grab a piece of paper, your budget app, or even your bank statement, and take a look at the last couple of months. Where did your money actually go?

  • Did groceries cost more than you expected?
  • Did you spend more on gas or travel?
  • Did kids’ activities or back-to-school supplies eat into categories you hadn’t planned for?

This isn’t about guilt or shame—it’s about awareness. You can’t move forward with confidence if you don’t know where you’ve been.

Think of it like taking your car in for an oil change. The mechanic doesn’t scold you for driving too many miles—they just look under the hood, see what needs attention, and get you set for the next stretch of the road. That’s what you’re doing here. You’re simply looking under the hood of your finances so you can move into this next season with a clearer picture.

And here’s the best part: once you’ve identified where things drifted, you can adjust. You’re not starting over from scratch—you’re just making small course corrections that set you up for success in the months ahead.

Step #2: Prepare for Seasonal Expenses

Once you’ve looked back at where your money’s been drifting, the next step is to look forward—because fall comes with its own set of unique expenses. And if we’re not intentional, they can pile up fast.

Think about it:

  • School is back in full swing, which usually means activity fees, sports equipment, school photos, yearbooks, and maybe even field trips.
  • The weather’s cooling down, so utility bills often creep up as we start turning on the heat.
  • There’s fall clothing—because, let’s be honest, kids don’t stop growing just because the budget is tight.
  • And before we know it, Halloween costumes, Thanksgiving travel, and Christmas prep are all staring us in the face.

And here’s the thing: most of these aren’t surprise expenses. They feel like surprises when we don’t prepare for them, but we can see them coming from a mile away.

I’ll give you an example. A few years back, I completely forgot about school photos. I didn’t plan for them, didn’t budget for them, and by the time the form came home in my daughter’s backpack, the only way to pay was to throw it on the credit card. Not a huge amount, but it still felt like an unnecessary hit to our already stretched budget. And the truth is, if I’d just thought about it ahead of time, I could have saved myself the stress.

That’s why I recommend grabbing a piece of paper—or the notes app on your phone—and writing down the next three months: September, October, November. Under each month, list out one or two big expenses you can already see coming.

It doesn’t have to be perfect, but the act of writing them down is powerful. Suddenly, those “I’ll worry about it later” costs are right in front of you, and you have the chance to plan for them now.

And here’s the best part: once you know what’s coming, you can spread the cost out. Instead of scrambling to come up with $200 for Thanksgiving groceries all at once, you can tuck away $50 here and there over the next few weeks. That’s a whole lot less stressful, right?

So don’t let fall expenses sneak up on you this year. Call them out, write them down, and give yourself the gift of being prepared.

Step #3: Create a Holiday Savings Fund Now

Alright, friend, this is the step that can make the biggest difference in your stress level over the next few months: setting up a holiday sinking fund.

Here’s the truth—December always comes. Every single year. And yet, so many of us act surprised by it. We get to the middle of the month, realize how many gifts, meals, and events are left, and panic-spend our way through the season. And more often than not, that panic spending ends up on a credit card.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

A savings fund is simply money you set aside a little at a time for a specific purpose—in this case, the holidays. It’s like giving your future self a financial gift.

And the best part? It doesn’t have to be a huge amount. Even small, consistent deposits add up fast.

Let me give you an example. If you start today and set aside just $25 each week, by Christmas you’ll have more than $300 ready to go. That’s $300 for gifts, meals, or travel that you don’t have to scramble for at the last minute.

And if you’re able to set aside $50 each week? That’s over $600 saved by the time the holidays hit.

Imagine how much lighter December would feel if you already had that money waiting for you. Instead of wondering how you’ll cover everything, you get to enjoy the season knowing the funds are there.

Now, I know some of you might be thinking, “But Sarah, I don’t have extra money to set aside.” And I get it—I’ve been there. But here’s the thing: even $5 or $10 a week is better than nothing. It’s not about the number, it’s about building the habit and giving yourself a cushion, however small it may be.

And don’t forget—you can get creative here. Maybe you cut back on one dinner out a month and redirect that money to your savings fund. Or maybe you sell a few things around the house you’re not using. Little sacrifices now can mean a whole lot more peace later.

The bottom line? December doesn’t have to be a financial nightmare. Start your savings fund today, and give your future self the gift of a stress-free holiday season.

Step 4: Reset Your Daily Habits Around Money

The last part of a fall budget reset is looking at your daily and weekly habits—the little things you do over and over that either support your financial goals or slowly chip away at them.

And here’s the good news: these don’t have to be dramatic changes. In fact, it’s usually the tiniest shifts that bring the most peace.

One of the habits that’s been a game-changer for my family is a weekly money check-in. Nothing complicated—we’re not crunching every number in the budget. It’s literally five or ten minutes once a week. We pull up the budget, look at what bills are coming up, and make sure we’re on the same page. That tiny routine has saved us from so many arguments and “surprise” expenses.

Another habit you might reset this fall is meal planning. I know, it doesn’t sound glamorous, but spending even fifteen minutes to write down three or four dinners for the week can save you from that 5 p.m. scramble that often ends in expensive takeout. Plus, it makes the grocery budget way more predictable.

And for us, another big one has been planning ahead for snacks and drinks when we’re out of the house. Whether it’s errands, park days, or day trips, I can’t tell you how many times we used to swing through the drive-thru just because everyone was hungry and I hadn’t thought ahead. Now we keep a bag with granola bars and refillable water bottles in the car, and it makes a huge difference.

The key here is simple: don’t try to change everything at once. Pick one habit that makes sense for your family right now and practice it until it feels automatic. Then add another if you’re ready.

Because at the end of the day, those little daily choices are like guardrails. They don’t stop life from being busy or unpredictable, but they do keep your money moving in the right direction. And when the holiday season rolls around, those guardrails will help you stay steady.

Which Smart Money Moves Will You Make?

So here’s my challenge for you this week: take fifteen minutes to do your own fall budget reset.

  • Look back at where your budget drifted over the summer.
  • Write down a few of the seasonal expenses you can see coming in the next couple of months.
  • Decide on a small amount you can start setting aside for the holidays—even if it’s just five or ten dollars a week.
  • And then, choose one daily or weekly money habit you want to reset.

That’s it. Nothing complicated. Just a short pause to check in with your money and get yourself ready for the season ahead.

Friend, fall is such a natural time to reset. We’re swapping out summer clothes for sweaters, pulling out blankets, and maybe even lighting a candle or two in the evenings. Why not take the same approach with your finances?

A little preparation now means less stress later. And instead of dreading the holidays or wondering how you’ll cover it all, you can move into the season with peace and confidence—knowing you’ve already laid the groundwork.

So don’t wait until December to scramble. Start your fall budget reset this week.

Whatever you decide, just know that I’m cheering you on! You’ve got this! Have an amazing day and I’ll chat with you again next time.

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