Fall is in the air! Those colder mornings and evenings, pumpkin spice everything, and for us Oregonians, lots and lots of rain…
We’re getting ready for fall! I recently splurged and bought myself some new rain boots and jacket. And we officially put the A/C unit away. But we’re also getting our fall budget ready! For all my budgeting friends out there, here are 5 things to include in your budget this fall!
P.S. If you’re looking to get a budget started, I have created an excel budget template download that you can check out on my Etsy shop! It’s $5 and all the formulas are set up for you. This is the exact template that I use for our personal budget, and you can see it in action in my YouTube videos!
Heat
Plan on that electric and gas bill being higher in the fall months! Jacob and I live in Portland, Oregon. And summers are nice. Usually pretty mild. Our cheapest heat bill for our 2 bedroom apartment was August at $39… We even had an A/C unit that we were running some evenings and it was still that low! But we do plan on that bill going up as we head into fall and winter.
Last winter, our most expensive electric month was $62. So while summer was lower for us, we do plan to budget more in this category for October and on.
Even when you’re living on a budget, it’s still important to heat your home. 🙂 Please do. Just make sure you budget for it. 🙂
Fall Clothing
As seasons are changing, maybe you’re finding that your wardrobe needs an upgrade. Totally fine! I did that as well recently with a new pair of Hunter boots. And I am in love.
With that being said, make sure that you include it in your budget this fall! The kids need new back-to-school clothes, and you may need a couple pieces for fall fashion as well.
Before you go to the store, check your closet to see what you have. Give away things that you don’t wear anymore or don’t fit, and finish taking inventory of your closet. Then, create a list of fall items that you may still need.
TIP: Check out Ebates first to see if you can get free cash back by shopping at a store online! It’s my go-to and has saved us so much with their free cash back.
Entertainment
Summers are easy to find free entertainment: concerts in the park, parades, community pool… But it can be a little bit harder to find free things to do in the fall. So add it to your budget!
Pumpkin patches, Halloween parties, and apple picking are all activities that will cost you something this season. But also don’t forget the trips to the indoor pool, children’s museum, and trampoline parks you’ll be taking advantage of in these rainy months.
TIP: To save on activities, check out Groupon first to see what fun activities are going on in your area for an affordable price.
Christmas Savings
That’s right. I’ve said it! Soon enough, Christmas will be here! And your budget better be ready for it! Christmas is not an emergency. It comes every December 25th. So if you haven’t already, now is a great time to start a Christmas sinking fund!
Here’s how it works: Add up all that you plan to spend for Christmas (presents, decor, extra giving, family meals, activities) and divide it by the number of months you have until Christmas. This is how much you need to save each month to have your Christmas fund ready to go by December! With spreading the cost of Christmas over many months, you don’t have to worry about it hitting your budget hard at the end of the year!
So if you haven’t already, start saving for Christmas! Santa will be here before we know it!
Decor
I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen so many YouTubers do some adorable fall decor hall videos recently. And it’s got me excited to decorate our own place!
If decorating is important for you, include it in your budget! But I will say that there are affordable ways that you can make your home feel fall-ready. I recently stopped by the Target dollar spot and found the cutest farmhouse pumpkins and string of leaves to use in decorating our mantel. I spent less than $20 to make our place feel warm and cozy and ready for fall!
Looking to decorate affordably? One of my favorite YouTube channels right now is Do It On A Dime. And Kathryn has made some recently fall decor DIY videos that are amazing!
Ready For Fall!
With these items included in your budget, you are ready for fall! So bring on the boots, and pumpkin spice everything as you put together your fall budget!