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Fall is not the season to deprive yourself. You will miss out on the cozy vibes, pumpkin patches, apple picking, the yummy lattes, and holiday prep.
This time of year is made for enjoying life, not depriving yourself, and you can save $1,000 this fall without cutting out all the fun!
If this is your goal, I think it’s amazing! You can definitely do it, even if you are tired of living paycheck to paycheck; these easy money tips are for you. Saving money doesn’t have to feel like punishment. Anything that feels hard will be difficult to accomplish due to a lack of motivation.
But I’m here to help you find a balance and what works for you so you can build your savings and still enjoy that pumpkin spice latte.
I want to highlight that it’s all about what works for you! Stop chasing what everyone else is doing; it hasn’t worked before and won’t start working now.
Let’s talk about how you can start saving $1,000 this fall:
1. Set a Fall Savings Goal
Don’t start saving blindly; you need a goal and a plan. Saying that you will save “more money” is vague, and there’s no direction. But if you say that you will save $1,000 by the end of the fall gives you clarity and motivation on how you will get there. It’s basically your compass to stay focused and meet your savings goal this fall.
So if your goal is to save $1,000 fast! Here is how you’re gonna do it: if you want to save $1,000 in 3 months, that breaks down to about $84/week over 12 weeks. Use this as your North Star and remind yourself that every dollar counts. Now, if you want to get a side hustle to meet your goal faster than that is another way to do it.
You may be interested in reading: How to build 3 months of savings.
2. Create a Fall Budget That Prioritizes Fun
Having a budget this fall is absolutely crucial. Rather than cutting out everything, you will rework your budget to include fun. Yes, you heard that right! This means that you are going to work on meeting your goal, and you will allow yourself to have fun this fall. This will ensure that you stay focused and on track to meet your goals. This will be the time that you won’t be feeling FOMO while you work on meeting your financial goal, which is saving $1000 by the end of the fall.
You can start by adding low-cost seasonal treats, such as scary movie nights, fall potlucks, or secondhand Halloween costumes. Add anything that brings you joy and makes you cozy inside.
This is a reminder that it is not the time to go all or nothing on this goal, as you’ll likely fail to save $1,000 by the fall. Adding fun to your budget can help prevent burnout and maintain consistency.
If you need help creating a budget, this is for you- 5 Different ways to budget: Find what works for you!
3. Cancel Subscriptions You Won’t Miss
Auditing your subscriptions is another way to find money now and send more to your savings.
For instance, consider canceling unused fitness apps or pausing streaming services you don’t watch. Trust me, any little bit counts! And redirect that money to your fall savings.
My Peloton subscription costs me $45 a month! That’s already half of $84, which is the goal to save weekly. And instead, I can start running outdoors or walking.
So what can you cancel or pause today?
4. Use Cashback Credit Cards for Everyday Purchases
Use your credit card that gives you the most cash back for everyday use. For instance, you’re already going to be grocery shopping, so why not earn cash back while you’re at it? This ensures you avoid debt and instead buy necessities while earning cash back.
Now, you can set that cash aside toward your $1,000 savings goal.
If you will be using a credit card, you must also know: How not managing your debt wisely can affect your credit score.
5. Meal Plan With Fall-Inspired Recipes
When there is a plan, it’s easier to reach your financial goals, and food is no different. Takeouts can drain your bank account, but finding affordable fall meals like soups, stews, or roasted veggie bowls can help you save money and send it toward your savings goal.
Meal planning can easily save you $50–$100/week — that’s halfway to your goal.
Some days you will be extremely exhausted and won’t want to cook, so save your takeout money for those occasions. Otherwise, meal planning will remove the decision fatigue and save you money.
Do you need more ideas? Here are 3 ways to save money on eating out.
6. Sell Seasonal Clothes You No Longer Wear
Have you been keeping clothes in your closet that you no longer wear? This is your chance to declutter your closet and earn some extra cash. You can sell items on Poshmark or Facebook Marketplace, and however much you make, you can send it directly to your savings account.
It’s a win-win situation! You declutter for fall and save money towards your $1,000 savings goal.
Selling items I no longer wanted or needed was my go-to in College when I wanted to buy an item. I would start by telling my college friends, and they would spread the word with their friends, and the majority of the time, it was a success. I kept my spending less than that when I started getting serious about paying off debt.
I go more into detail here on: How I stopped the paycheck to paycheck cycle and paid off 16 maxed out credit cards! A total of $30,000!
7. Host a Potluck Instead of Going Out
Hosting a potluck was my go-to with my friend group when I got serious about paying my $30,000 of credit card debt. I have a lot of friends, and scheduling individual brunches and dinners to have fun and catch up would leave me with little to no money to send to debt. Potlucks were amazing, so I suggest you try it out to have more money to send toward your savings goal.
Avoid dropping $60+ at dinner, and invite friends over for a fall-themed potluck. It’s more fun and more affordable. Plus, you get to try other types of foods that perhaps you had not tried before. You will save money without missing out on connection.
Get creative with different ways to socialize this fall without breaking the bank. Your friends will thank you! They have financial goals they want to meet, too!
This is how I paid off $30,000 of debt in 18 months.
8. Shop Secondhand for Fall Decor or Get It for Free
I know decorating is fun! But before you go to Target, check your local thrift store or Buy Nothing group on Facebook.
You can find stylish fall decor that doesn’t break the bank, bringing joy to your space.
We are so used to buying everything new that we forget other alternatives. Save your money and send it towards your goal!
9. Automate Your Savings
This is a must! Automating your savings will make your life a lot easier. An easy way to save $1,000 is to set up an automatic transfer of $84/week or $125 every payday.
Automating your savings will help you stay on track without overthinking it. Meaning that on Friday, you get paid? It will be sent directly to your savings account, eliminating the need for you to decide whether to use it for shopping.
Automating your savings takes away the decision-making burnout you may be feeling in other areas of your life. Or is it just me who has decision burnout? Please say no hahaha!
You do not want to miss this read: How to make money with a High-Yield Savings Account.
You Deserve a Joyful Life Without Financial Stress
You can have fun this fall and still have a minimum of $1,000 in savings. Especially in this economy, you need to have a safety net that is NOT your credit card. The more prepared you are, the less financial stress you will feel, and you can experience that. You can start building financial freedom. This fall, you can make intentional choices that build your savings and your memories at the same time.
You know why? In this economy, you cannot rely on your 9-to-5 as a safety net. You can be laid off tomorrow, and your safety net is out the window! I really hope this does not happen to you, but it is becoming very likely these days. This is why you want to build your own safety net. If you lose your job, you have a few months saved to get you through until you find your next career opportunity. So, start with saving $1,000, and you can build up from there.
This is your reminder that budgeting is not about restriction. It’s about making room for the life you actually want. What type of life do you really want?
Let me know in the comments how much you are saving this fall.
