Saving Money in November

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November is a great time to start saving money, especially with the holidays around the corner. Here are some simple tips to help you stretch your budget this month.

1. Plan Your Meals: With cooler weather, it’s a great time to cook at home. Plan your meals around what’s on sale, and use seasonal produce like sweet potatoes, squash, and apples, which are often cheaper. Cooking at home not only saves money but also lets you make healthier choices.

2. Host Wisely: When hosting a gathering, spread out the effort and cost by encouraging friends to bring something. Even simple contributions, like bringing a drink to share can help. This can also help ensure that picky eaters have at least one thing they are comfortable with.

3. Shop Sales Smartly: Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer big discounts, but don’t buy things just because they’re on sale. Make a list of what you need, set a budget, and stick to it. Look for deals on items you were already planning to buy.

4. DIY Gifts: The holidays are approaching, and now is a good time to start making gifts. Homemade gifts like baked goods, crafts, or personalized photo albums are thoughtful and cost less than store-bought items.

5. Lower Heating Costs: As temperatures drop, keep your heating costs down by wearing layers, using blankets, and keeping your thermostat at a reasonable temperature.

6. Check Your Statements: Whether you cancel subscriptions you aren't using or discover an error, looking over your statements can be a great way to find some room in your budget!

Resources to learn about money are also available on the Treasury's Financial Literacy page, or through the Smart About Money documents.

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