Spring is officially here! And I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to some warmer weather. Maybe you’re working on that spring cleaning for your home, but now is also the time to do some spring cleaning in your budget. Here are 6 things to clean up on your budget this season.
Vacation Fund
Spring Break is here and summer vacations are right around the corner! How is your vacation fund looking? If you have money in your vacation fund, it’s time to begin planning your summer trip! Maybe it’s a weekend getaway, or maybe it’s that dream Hawaii trip. Don’t forget to budget your travels and enjoy along the way.
Utilities
Winter is over… And your gas and electric bills are probably rejoicing. Winter is usually expensive for those utility bills. But as we shift into spring and mild weather, you’ll most likely see a dip in those usual monthly costs. Although, be warned! If you live in a more southern state, you may see those costs remain the same as you’re using more electricity for your A/C.
Gas
Another thing that we can almost always count on as we head into spring and summer is higher gas prices. As more people are traveling, gas prices always seem to go up. Make sure that you’re budgeting enough for gas each month, and don’t be surprised if you see those prices go up at the pump.
Food
During fall and winter, chances are you spent a bit on food. All those holiday meals, casseroles, and desserts have been A LOT of food (and some of us are trying to work it off). But there’s good news coming. You’ll probably spend less on food in the spring and summer. Most of our summer time meals consists of smoothies, salads, and other light meals. You typically eat less in these warmer months, which means you’ll spend less on food!
Entertainment
Summer is my most favorite season. As a kid, we always had such fun summers. I loved the spontaneous trips to get ice cream on those hot days, and trips to the water park. The truth is, you’ll want to fully enjoy these spring and summer seasons! So budget for it. Make sure that you create a plan with your money especially in these coming months when it comes to fun and entertainment. If you know you’re going to do it, don’t forget to include it in your budget.
Financial Goals
There are a lot of fun things coming up in the spring and summer. And you’re probably excited to spend that vacation and entertainment money this year! But don’t forget about your financial goals this spring and summer. Whether you’re working on paying off debt, or saving for an emergency or large purchase, keep working at your financial goals this season.
Use this upcoming season to re-evaluate your financial goals. What are you working towards? When will your goals be completed? What do you need to do to achieve these goals faster? So keep pursuing your financial goals this spring and enjoy these sunny days!