Is Fall Making You Feel Overwhelmed? Let’s Tackle It Together

 

It’s that time again…football is back, the weather is creeping slowly towards cooler temps (at least for us in AZ), and the Halloween candy is on the shelves at Frys. If you’re feeling the stress of the upcoming season (and maybe your finances), you’re not alone. September is the calm before the storm and an ideal opportunity to assess your finances, plan for the rest of the year and set yourself up for a confident start to 2026.

 

Reassess Where Your Money Rests

• Review your accounts: Are your savings and investments actually working for you?
• Hunt for better yields: Explore high-yield savings or investment options that fit your risk tolerance and goals.
• Don’t let cash sit idle: Even small adjustments can help your money grow.

 

Automate to Accumulate

• Set and forget: Schedule automatic transfers to savings or investment accounts.
• Small steps count: Even $25 a month adds up big over time.
• Consistency is key: Automation keeps your financial plan moving, even during the busy season

 

Prepare for Holiday Spending—Before It Hits

• Take the time to revisit your budget: Go over your income and expenses and make sure you’re prepared for the holiday frenzy.
• Identify seasonal expenses: For a lot of people the holiday season starts in October, don’t forget to budget for those big bags of Halloween candy and your addition to Thanksgiving dinner. Costumes, gifts, parties, and travel can add up fast. Take the time to think through all the costs so they don’t catch you off guard and end up on credit.

 

Attack High-Interest Debt

• What do they say in football, a good offense is the best defense? Armed with the knowledge from your budgeting session, make a game plan that doesn’t include putting everything on credit. If you’re paying off high interest debts, don’t add to them this season just because there’s a new color scheme for Christmas ornaments at Target.

• Shrink your credit card balances: We’ve talked about how to do this before. Focus on debts with the highest rates first (the avalanche method), or knock out smaller balances for quick wins (the snowball method). The best method is the one that makes you want to stick with it.

 

Set Your Final 2025 Financial Goal

• Pick one “quick win” to end the year: Top up your emergency fund, make an extra debt payment, or max out a retirement account.
• Celebrate progress: Every small win builds momentum for a financial focused 2026.
• Remember that while brands will be pushing everything from new cars to new toys all season long, your long term goals will be far more satisfying.

 

Don’t Skip Your Financial Checkup

• Book a fall review: This is the perfect moment to connect with your advisor, review your strategy, and make tax-smart moves before year-end.

 

Together, even small, intentional actions can create big results. This fall let’s keep your financial momentum strong and head into a successful new year.