Feeling that summer budget slump? Yeah, me too! We started the season with big dreams and a solid plan, but now it’s like our wallets are leaking. Today, we’re diving into how to spot those sneaky spending habits that have drifted off course and how to hit the reset button before summer slips away. We’re not here to beat ourselves up; it’s all about making small, realistic adjustments to regain peace of mind. So grab a drink, kick back, and let’s chat about how to turn that slump into a summer comeback with The "Summer Slump" Budget Review: Re-evaluating Habits Mid-Season.
Check out the full podcast episode here
Summer vibes can be a total budget buster, right? We kicked off the season with our wallets feeling all kinds of okay, but now it feels like our money is doing the limbo—how low can it go? In this episode, we're tackling the infamous summer budget slump. You know, that moment when you realize you’ve been dining out a bit too much, and maybe that online shopping spree got a little out of hand? But don’t sweat it! We’re here to help you do a little financial check-up and get back on track. Think of it as a friendly reminder that it’s totally fine to hit pause and reassess your spending habits. Just because summer’s all about letting loose doesn’t mean your finances have to go wild too. So grab a cold drink, kick back, and let’s talk about turning that slump into a summer success story.
We dive into the nitty-gritty of recognizing those sneaky spending habits and how to reset your financial goals. There’s some serious wisdom in the scriptures we share, reminding us that budgets aren’t chains holding us down but tools that can empower us. It’s all about making those small, realistic adjustments that can lead to big changes. So whether it’s cutting back on that takeout or planning some free family fun, we got you covered with actionable steps to regain that financial peace. Don’t let the summer slump get you down—let’s turn it around together!
Takeaways:
- Summer can throw our budgets into a slump, so keep an eye on spending habits.
- A mid-season review isn't a sign of failure; it's a chance for a fresh start.
- Even small adjustments can make a big difference in regaining financial control.
- Recognize that budgets are tools of grace, not chains that hold us back.
- It's important to spot areas where spending has drifted and make quick corrections.
- Planning free activities can help keep summer fun without breaking the bank.
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Episode Transcript
The summer started with suchgreat financial intentions, but now
that we're mid season, doesyour budget feel a little, well,
slumped? Have spending habitsdrifted and are you wondering how
to regain control? What if aquick checkup could get you back
on track for a stress freesummer? Well, stick with me today
because I've got the steps tomake that happen and that's exactly
(00:21):
what I'm covering on today's show.
This is Financially ConfidentChristian, your daily dose of gospel,
grounded insight and faithdriven tips to help you break the
cycle of financial financialshame with confidence.
Hey there and welcome back toyour Financially Confident Christian.
I'm Ralph and this is the showthat always helps you answer that
big question and that's howcan I become a financially confident
(00:44):
Christian? And we are in ourseries Smart Money for Back to school
and beyond, trying to help youthrive for the financial school year
and finish up the summerstrong. Now today we're going to
focus on the summer budgetslump. Yeah, I said slump because
so many of us get into thatsummer routine and the great habits
that we had at the beginningof the year just starting to fade
just a little bit. Maybe we'reeating out a little bit more, we're
(01:07):
spending a little bit more onthe entertainment. We're not paying
attention to what we thoughtwe were going to pay attention to.
So today I really want tofocus on how to recognize that drift
and reset your path towardspeace and purpose. So let's talk
about the summer slump andwhat that looks like. You started
summer, like I said, with goodintentions. Maybe you had that summer
(01:27):
fun. Fun. Remember I talkedabout that on a few shows ago. You
had a savings goal, you had aspending plan. But as with most people,
along came summer and alongcame those impulse buys, those spontaneous
events, things you justcouldn't afford to miss. And maybe,
just maybe, you've taken abreak from your tracking and now
all of a sudden you'restarting to feel things get a little
(01:49):
tight again. Your budget'sstarting to feel a little leaky.
Maybe like a lot of us, you'restarting to feel guilty about your
spending decisions again.Maybe you're even questioning your
discipline now. This isn'tjust about money. If it was just
about money, be simple. But somany times it's a whole other level
of emotional issues as well.But here's the truth I want you to
(02:10):
hear right now. If you'relistening right now and you're feeling
like you're a failure, this isnot a failure. This is just a moment
for a faithful reset. So let'slook into the scripture today and
talk about how that looks inscripture, because here's the thing
I want you to understand thebig idea for today. Budgets are not
chains. If you think that abudget is a chain, guess what you're
(02:31):
going to do. You're going tobreak free of it and you're not going
to use it. But if you're usinga budget, well, if you're using a
budget wisely, it's really atool of grace. And this mid season
review doesn't signal adefeat. This doesn't mean, oh, throw
my hands up, I've lost aproject. Ralph it's not that at all.
But if you really take thetime and do this mid season review,
(02:53):
it's a mark of diligence and,and it's a mark of perseverance.
So let's look right into thescripture and I'm going to use one
that I use on the showprobably once a week, and that's
Proverbs 21:5. It says this.The plans of the diligent lead to
profit as surely as hasteleads to poverty. Again, we're talking
about that plan you created.Maybe you created that way back at
the beginning of the summer.You had these great ideas for I'm
(03:16):
really going to cut back onspending this summer. Maybe you saw
that you had a routine everyyear that summer. You got into this
slump before and you said, I'mreally going to do this this time,
Ralph. But now, now you'restarting to look at this and go,
yeah, I'm about halfwaythrough and I really had a savings
goal and I'm not meeting thatsavings goal. And it talks all about
this in the scripture, that,that diligent planning. Another book
(03:36):
that's mentioned here. Andwe'll talk about perseverance. That's
the book of Galatians, chaptersix, nine. And this one, I think
is perfect for what we'retalking about today. It says this,
let us not become weary indoing good, for at the proper time
we will reap a harvest. And ifwe don't give up, hey, that's what
I'm talking about today. Thisis not the time to throw your hands
(03:57):
and say, I give up. I can'tbudget, I can't make this work, Ralph.
But here's the thing I wantyou to hear right now, because listen,
I've been there too. There aretimes where we all struggle. We have
these great intentions. We'regoing to lose weight, we're going
to eat healthier, we're goingto do all of those type of things.
But here's my encouragementfor you right now. Even small course
corrections are acts of faith.And I just want to encourage you
(04:20):
right now. Let God guide thatstewardship and let him put you back
into alignment. So here's yourone action step for today with the
goal of regaining peace andregaining control over your summer
finances. I want you to dothat. And listen, this is pretty
simple. Today I just want youto schedule your slump check in.
I thought that was kind of acatchy way to say it because all
(04:41):
of us feel that summer slumpsometimes. But I just want you to
go ahead and schedule thatslump check in. And this doesn't
have to be this big elaborate,you know, corporate board meeting.
No, I just want you to blockoff maybe 15, 20 minutes this week
and just treat it as a realimportant, but hey, it's a real employment
with yourself. And I want youto really review your spending and
(05:01):
I want you to review ithonestly. You know, take out that
budget, take out thatintentional spending plan, get those
transaction journals thatyou've been keeping track of. Maybe
you're not doing a great jobof that space of time to get back
into doing that. Look at yourbank statement, look at your credit
card statements and reallyfocus on the last two or three weeks.
Only this isn't the time to gosay, well, you know, I did this two
(05:22):
months ago, I did this fourmonths ago. No, really laser focus
on the last two, three weeksand just work on that. And I just
want you to work on spottingsome drift areas. We're not talking
about these major shifts,we're just talking about categories
that maybe slipped a littlebit. You can't fix everything. I
just want you to really lookat fixing the things that look like
(05:43):
the biggest leaks for you. Andthen once you do that, once you've
looked at the data, once youfound those drifting areas, I, I
want you to really just makeone realistic adjustment, just some
quick wins. For example, oneof these that I think jumps out at
a lot of people is maybeyou've noticed that you're ordering
out more, you're, you'redining out more maybe to say to yourself,
look, I'm going to cut thatdining out by X number of dollars
(06:05):
next week. Hey, maybe for youit's that impulse buying is starting
to creep and I did a showabout that, that lifestyle creep
a couple days ago. But maybefor you it's time to reinstate that
24 hour rule. Maybe as you'resitting there in the summertime,
you don't have as much goingon you're you find scrolling through
Amazon or looking doing some,some window shopping, maybe online
(06:26):
window shopping. But. Butmaybe it's time to reinstate that
24 hour pause rule. Hey, maybethis is a great time because maybe
like a lot of people, your,your entertainment budget has grown.
Maybe this is the time toreally sit down with the family and
plan three free activities.Times that you could go do things
that don't cost you anythingat all. And hey, if your goal was
(06:48):
about savings, maybe it's timeto put a little bit money into that
summer fund. Fund. Yeah,because summer's not over. We've
got some more room to go. Sothat is my quick action step for
today. Take a look at yourintentional spending. Track those
things, see where your leaksare and just plug up a couple of
those and make some quick winsfor yourself. How about we pray together?
(07:10):
Father God, we just thank youfor your grace. And we thank you
for your grace that helps usget back on track, Lord. And we confess
that our financial habits,truth be told, they sometimes drift
away and they lead us to whatwe call this budget slump. And they
lead us to stress and a lackof peace, Lord. And we just ask that
you would grant us honesty inour review, Lord. And grace, when
we see our imperfections, weask that you would help us be diligent
(07:34):
in course correction and tomake wise, realistic adjustments.
Lord, guide us back to yourpath of peace and intentional stewardship.
And we ask this in confidencein in Jesus name. Listen, a mid season
review is a strength. Itreally is. It's not a sign of weakness.
It's a sign that you're reallypaying attention to what is going
(07:54):
on in your financial life. Andlisten, it only takes one decision
and you can make that decisiontoday. So I'm going to encourage
you today, schedule thatreview, make just one change and
hey, regain your peace. Andmaybe you know someone else who's
feeling out of control withsome are spending. I'm going to encourage
you right now, you share theshow with them. You can even share
this particular episode withthem. Just point them to financially
(08:16):
confidentchristian.com say,hey, Ralph did a show on the summer
slump. You got to check thisout. I've really got a lot from it.
Maybe you're feeling the sameway I feel. Hey, that's how we grow
the show and that's how we'reable to impact more people. So again,
I'm going to encourage you todo that now on tomorrow's show. We're
going to talk about how toovercome summer FOMO spending. You
don't want to miss that one.Now, let's all go out there today
(08:38):
and be those financiallyconfident Christians. You can do
this. I have confidence inyou. Have confidence in yourself.
Stay financially savvy. Godbless you, and you have a great day.
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