Issue link: https://fredparent.uberflip.com/i/1539483
22 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • September 2025 family money WRITTEN BY NIKKI DUCAS As summer comes to a grinding halt and children are back in school, are you recovering from spending whiplash? During the lazy days of summer, it was so easy to say yes to extra visits to an amusement park, another ice cream from the ice cream truck or one more pizza delivery by the pool, but those extra treats cost money and were probably not in the budget. So, how did these seasonal splurges affect your bottom line? Were you able to save your wallet from turning into a red lobster? While sitting around the pool this summer, I was shocked to learn that many people don't have a budget. Most rely on tax refunds or bonuses to pay for summer fun. Some opted out of doing something if it was too expensive, while others used credit cards to give in to their children's desires. However, it was refreshing to hear these suggestions from those who do budget. • One family has their yearly expenses as a line item in their monthly budget. They map out the whole year in December to include budgets for vacations and camps. Then, they add it up and divide it by 12 and use whatever is left over for fun extras. • One dad uses a cost benefit analysis of expected fun vs. cost to decide is it worth doing, should we do it again, or choose something else? He measures the qualitative vs. quantitative aspects of all summer activities. • My husband uses a savings app that breaks out our 20ish budgeted items (car, house, food, clothing, vacations, gas, utilities, misc. spending, charity, etc.). Then we found ourselves a couple hundred dollars below where we thought we would be at the end of the year, not because we meticulously budgeted but because we were careful with our spending. Even If you got swept up in summer splurges, all is not lost. I love playing these little savings games to see if I can "save the change." Here are some ideas: • Throw your loose change in a jar and roll it or take it to the bank to have it counted • When you break a larger bill, save the five-dollar bills and put them in a separate envelope • If you allow yourself some fun money every week and don't spend it all, instead of rolling it over to the next week, put the extra money in another envelope for savings. You might surprise yourself at just how much money you saved, and it could be enough for an unexpected treat next summer. At the end of the day, it's not about where you go, but the memories you are making together. So whether it's a staycation, a weekend getaway to the beach or a trip to visit extended fam- ily, your children will remember time spent together as a family. Did Your Wallet Survive the Summer Splurge?