Did you know that you can spend less this fall season? Some people do not think twice about it. But if you are falling short or living from paycheck to paycheck, you should probably start paying more attention to it.
If you think about it, financial success is not really about how much you are earning. It is more of how you spend your money. You can earn a 6-figure income but if you have bad spending habits, you may be at a higher risk of ruining your finances compared to a minimum wage worker who spends wisely.
Bottom line is, you need to start thinking about how you can spend less money – at least it should be less than what you are earning. It is not enough that you spend within your means. You need to spend below your means. That is the only way that you can have a higher extra amount that can be used to grow your savings or invest in financial opportunities that can grow your personal net worth.
You may be thinking – it is already October and we are nearing the end of the year. Well, as long as the year is not yet over, you can still find ways to cut your spending this year. You just have to be determined and resourceful enough to do it.
Even if it is already autumn, there are a couple of ways that you can spend less before the end of the year.
6 ways you can lower your spending this fall season
There are many ways for you to start spending less of your money this fall season. Here are 6 tips that you can start with.
Exercise outside. Autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons. Together with spring, the fall season exhibits the best colors that nature can offer. It is a great time to spend outdoors. Instead of spending money on a gym membership, you may want to take your exercise routine outside. If you have a bike, use it and go around the park. Jog a couple of times outdoors. The cooler air is a great reprieve from the heat of the summer. You will miss spending time outdoors once the cold winter season starts so you might as well stock up on your vitamin D.
Save on energy costs. The fall season also offers a lot of opportunities to spend less on your energy costs. Instead of using the dryer, you might want to hang your clothes to dry in your yard. The sun and air would do your clothing some good. It will make your clothing smell great. Not only that, the cooler air will lessen the need to turn up the air conditioning unit. It is also not too cold that you need to turn the heater up. Since the weather encourages you to spend more time outdoors, you might find yourself watching less television. All of these will contribute to your intent to lower your energy bill.
Plan to travel now. If you want to continue the tradition of traveling with your family at least once a year, autumn is the best way to do it. According to the research provided by Hopper.com, the airfare fell after the height of the summer season. It is believed that this autumn, the airfare will fall by 8.2%. It might even go as low as $213 in October. The fall season is off-peak for travelers. Everything from airfares to hotel prices and tourist attractions will be cheaper during the off-peak season. Take advantage of this savings. Not only will you spend less, you can also enjoy your travel more because you do not have to contend with the tourist crowd.
Look for fall sale events. While the sale events are usually focused on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, there are other great sale events during the autumn season. You have the Columbus Day this coming October 10. Halloween (October 31), Veterans Day (November 11), and Small Business Saturday (November 26) are also some of the holidays that you may want to mark in your calendar. Stores usually offer promos and discounts during these events.
Cook more at home. In relation to the cooler weather, you may want to consider using your kitchen more often. It is a great time to start cooking at home without being bothered by the heat coming from the stove or oven. You will spend less on your food budget and you are more guaranteed to eat healthier food too. Since there is heat coming from the stove, this can also give you additional savings when it comes to your energy consumption. That is like hitting two birds with one stone!
Take advantage of autumn produce. Since we already mentioned cooking, you might want to focus on the fresh produce in season. Fruits and vegetables that grow in abundance usually cost less. According to Health.com, among the produce that you should consider includes apples, brussel sprouts, parsnips, pear, pumpkin, rutabaga, squash, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, and turnips. Search for “fall recipes” and you should be able to get a lot of ideas about what you can cook at home.
How does your fall spending affect your finances?
You may be thinking – why is it so important to spend less this fall? The truth is, it is just as important to lower your spending regardless of the time of the year. But if you are looking for reasons to start spending less this autumn, here are a couple of reasons that you can use to motivate yourself.
- Helps you take a breather after the back-to-school expense. Did you know that the back-school spending reached $758 billion this year? That is according to the research done by the National Retail Federation. That is quite a lot of money! By spending less money this fall, you are actually helping your finances recover from such a big expense. If you used your credit card for some of the purchases, you can use the extra money freed by your lower spending to pay off your balance. The sooner to pay the high-interest debt, the less money you waste on interest.
- Allows you to take advantage of the weather. Another reason why you should be motivated to spend less this season is to take advantage of the nice weather outside. If you did not know, spending time outdoors is actually good for your health. That is another bonus that you can get from this season. Just enjoy the sunshine without getting too hot. It will help you save on energy costs and soak up on a much-needed vitamin D before the snow starts falling.
- Helps you prepare for the holiday season. Finally, lowering your expenses during this season will allow you to prepare your finances for the big spend that you will make for the holiday season. If you want to stay out of holiday debt, this is something that you need to prepare for. Spending less will allow you to increase your savings so you can pay for your holiday expenses in cash. Even if you choose to pay through your credit card to earn rewards, you can afford to pay your balance in full so it will not accrue interest.
Spending less is usually important because you want to free money in your budget to allow you to save more. To give you more tips here is a video about how a couple was able to save $70,000 in 3 years so they can buy their dream home.
Common questions about spending less
Question: What happens when consumers spend less?
Answer: In a consumerist society, spending less could mean endangering the economy. However, if consumers spend too much that it leads to debt, then that is also a bad sign. You need to find a balance. Spend as much as you need but not too much that it leads you to use too much credit.
Question: Why should I spend less money?
Answer: The main reason to spend less money is to have more extra cash from your income. This extra money can be used to pay for important expenses, save for a rainy day or invest in a financial opportunity.
Question: When is it wise to spend less money?
Answer: When you have a financial goal, this is usually a great time to spend less money. When you are living beyond your means, spending less is also a good idea. If you want to improve your financial position, you need to have the extra money that will help you jumpstart your financial improvement.
Question: Why do we spend less when we use cash?
Answer: Experts believe that parting with cash is more painful because it represents our hard work. This is not a feeling that we have when we use credit or debit cards.
Question: How do I spend less at home?
Answer: There are many ways to spend less at home. You can choose to lower your energy costs by utilizing some of the tips mentioned earlier in this article. You can also opt to use DIY (Do-It-Yourself) products rather than buy them.
