6 Ways To Live Below Your Means This Fall, According to Frugal Living YouTuber Kate Kaden
It can be challenging to live below your means during the fall months. These months are punctuated with major life events, like back-to-school season, and holidays including Halloween and Thanksgiving. And even if you make a list and stick to it, certain fall expenses (pumpkin spice flavored drinks, cozy outerwear and autumn décor just to name a few) have a way of adding up fast.
Luckily, frugal living YouTuber Kate Kaden knows it’s tough to stick to your budget and recently compiled a video outlining six realistic tips for living below your means while still enjoying the autumn season. Here’s what she recommends doing to stay on top of your finances.
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1. Create a Cozy Home Sanctuary
Kaden said one of the biggest money traps during fall is thinking you need to go somewhere, and spend money, to enjoy the season. Think of making trips to pumpkin patches or going apple picking for lasting fall memories.
The reality is some of the best memories are made at home, so she recommends romanticizing your home during fall and creating a cozy home environment you won’t want to leave. You can light scented candles, break out the snuggly throw blankets, bake cookies or cook your favorite comfort food dish, or relax with a good book.
Whatever gets your space comfy and allows you to enjoy your mortgage or rent.
2. Set Boundaries on Seasonal Spending
It’s important to set a limit to how much money you’ll spend on fall-related purchases this year, otherwise it’s easy to impulse buy and let the charges add up.
Before buying any new seasonal items, like decorations or home goods, Kaden recommends shopping your home first. See what you can pull out of storage to reuse again instead of running out and buying all-new everything.
3. Try the 'One In, One Out' Rule for Fall Clothing
It’s very easy to stock up on all the fall clothes until you end up with a wardrobe crammed full of bulky sweaters, jackets and too many pairs of boots.
Here’s where Kaden’s ‘one in, one out’ rule helps to declutter closets and stick to budgets. If you bring in a piece of clothing, you need to get rid of a piece of clothing. Ask yourself before buying if you really need this and can see yourself wearing it a lot.
If you know you’re going to get a lot of use out of this item of clothing, what can you get rid of to make room in your wardrobe?
4. Prioritize Home Cooking Over Takeout
Cool weather means it’s Crock-Pot season. It’s officially time to start making slow cooker meals, soups, chilis and casseroles, and dine in instead of out on a regular basis.
Instead of grabbing takeout, Kaden said to start thinking about what you can make at home that’s easy and you get a lot out of, by way of feeling full and having leftovers.
5. Start Preparing for the Holidays
Christmas and the winter holidays will be here before you know it and now’s the time to start your holiday prep to make the season easier on yourself and your budget.
Kaden recommends creating a Google Sheet in the Google Suite where you can jot down who’s all on your holiday shopping list and the types of gifts and total amounts you plan to spend on each person.
6. Remember That It's a Lifestyle, Not a Punishment
Living below your means can seem like it’s a punishment, but it’s not. When you live below your means, you’re not spending more than what you earn because you already know how much you can spend. This keeps you from going into debt and becoming stressed over bills to the point of losing sleep.
By living below your means, Kaden said you’re creating a less stressful lifestyle that gives you more control and allows you to feel like your life is yours.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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