As October comes to an end, hopefully, you have stuck with your budget. Now it’s time to make sure your November budget has all it needs to keep your finances moving forward. Take a look at these November budget items that you may want to consider including in your monthly household budget.
4 November Budget Items to Remember
Here are 4 November budget items as you plan for the month to avoid consumer debt.
November is a great time to get free credit counseling and enjoy pumpkin pie.
Thanksgiving
Most people love Thanksgiving! But be careful with your budgeting to avoid overspending. If you’re handling debt management, you don’t want holiday spending to overthrow you. Even if you aren’t hosting, you probably will have some costs to consider. Travel costs are one November item to consider. Another cost can be the potluck dish you intend to bring to the office or your family’s dinner. You should also keep in mind any new outfits for you and the family as well as any home décor that ends up in your shopping cart from Target.
Winter Car Prep
Debt management efforts can get derailed if you don’t account for winter’s effect on your car’s expenses.
Winter not only affects your home but your car as well. It’s important to include a few car preparation expenses in your November budget items. These include rock salt/ice melt, snow shovels, windshield wiper fluid, ice scrapers… And the big one: snow tires. Do you need a pair of snow tires for a new vehicle? Or maybe your old snow tires are too worn out for another winter. Whatever the case may be, these can be anywhere from $500-$1,000.
Warmer Clothing
As the weather gets colder, you and your family will need warmer clothing. If anyone changed sizes or things were worn out from last year, you will need to purchase a few new items. Keep an eye out for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday sales! Check out thrift stores or host a clothing swap with friends to reduce costs.
Christmas Presents or Savings
As the holidays roll in, you will need to be as prepared as possible to avoid credit card debt. Hopefully, you have already been saving up for Christmas presents, travel and holiday party expenses. Remember that Black Friday can save you lots of money, but you need to have the cash for it first. You may also purchase a tree at the end of the month. While this isn’t a huge expense, it still costs money. We like to get a wreath and a new tree ornament every year. Try to account for all these items in the budget as needed.
Keep these unexpected November budget items in mind as you start preparing your budget. The more prepared you are, the better chance you have of avoiding consumer debt. Always prioritize necessities and getting out of debt over the fun budget items.
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
