By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Kimberly Palmer: A fall financial cleanse could get your spending back on track
preview.jpg
FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2011, file photo, a wallet containing cash and a Visa card is displayed in Surfside, Fla. After a summer that might have included more spending than usual, a fall financial cleanse could get you back on track. You can start with looking back at your January goals and doing a simple financial audit. Then if you’re not already following a budget, create one to track your spending, and make checking finances part of your morning routine. The cleanse could also include a plan to pay off high-interest debt and a check of your upcoming tax responsibilities. Lastly, don’t forget to make some room for fun in your budget. - photo by AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File
If summer is a season of spontaneity and indulgence, then fall offers a counterpoint: It’s a chance to get back on schedule, and back on budget. “Summer, with travel and no school, tends to be a really spendy time. The fall is a nice reset,” says Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, a certified financial planner and author of “The 30-Day Money Cleanse.” Gerstley says giving yourself a “money cleanse” offers a chance to carefully go over your spending and financial habits so you can make any necessary changes to end the year strong.