SPOKANE, Wash. — As summer vacation fades and the school year begins, many families find themselves in a unique financial position: the holidays are still months away, but spending season is approaching fast.
Financial experts say this is the perfect moment to take control of your budget before the rush begins.
Rather than waiting until January to reset your finances, fall offers an ideal window to review your spending habits and make adjustments, according to James Rothwell, of GESA Credit Union.
“You’re through with the summer vacations. You’ve got a little bit of time before the holidays are going to really check in. So it’s a nice time to look at the budget and see if there’s a chance to tweak the way that your budget and finances are looking,” Rothwell said.
The first step in adjusting your budget is gaining clarity on your current financial situation. Take time to review how much you spent over the summer and identify areas where you may have overspent. This honest assessment provides the foundation for meaningful changes.
Once you understand how your money is working for you, the next step is prioritization. Your goals might differ from your neighbor’s, and that’s okay. Some families may need to rebuild savings depleted by summer travel, while others want to build up reserves for holiday shopping and year-end expenses.
Rothwell emphasizes the importance of being reasonable with your expectations. Set your financial goals early in the process, before the pressure of the season builds. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your financial institution for guidance—whether through in-person consultations or online tools.
The key to success is making your budget modifications as easy as possible to follow. One of the most effective strategies is automation.
“Automatically move into the savings accounts that are going to be beneficial for you. Anything you can do to take away a decision point and make it invisible. Really going to help you stay on track with what those changes are,” Rothwell explained.
By setting up automatic transfers to savings accounts designated for specific goals—holiday spending, emergency funds, or vacation savings—you remove the temptation to spend that money elsewhere. The money moves before you have a chance to decide what to do with it.
Fall presents a unique opportunity that January doesn’t offer: time. You have several months before the holiday spending season reaches its peak, giving you time to adjust your habits and see results before the pressure hits.
“It’s nice opportunity to look and see if there’s any priorities that you want to rank up or down. And it’s nice, interesting period before the holidays kick off,” Rothwell said.
Whether you’re looking to reduce debt, build an emergency fund, or simply spend more intentionally this holiday season, the time to start is now. You don’t need to overhaul your entire financial life—small, deliberate adjustments made in September can have a significant impact by January.
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