Not to mention, now is a great time to stock up your candy dish! Your co-workers won’t mind when that tootsie roll they just stole was purchased.

And of course, Halloween is just one example of a decorating theme with a deadline. You could do the same thing for other holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or Easter.

Do you have any tips on how to save money for those special times of the year?

One of my favorite Bank Accounts is the Christmas Club account. Most banks and credit unions offer some sort of account similar to this. It’s usually a savings account you transfer money into weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or whatever works for you. These accounts typically don’t allow you to withdraw money, or might penalize you if you do withdraw money, before a certain day (typically sometime in late October.) Talk about a good incentive to put some money away, and leave it there! You then receive all those savings, either by check or transferring into your checking account, so you’re ready to spend it.

I have an idea of how much money I spend every holiday season, I divided that by about 40 or 45, and transferred that amount out of my checking account and into this Special Occasion Account weekly. And yes, I know there’s 52 weeks in a year, but this gives me a little leeway. If you start an account like this now, you’ll need to figure the amount you want to have saved up, the number of weeks you have until you’ll need the money, and how often you want to transfer money (maybe every payday or maybe every Monday.) And some people will just deposit money whenever they can. Maybe once a month you gather up all the coins from everyone’s pockets and deposit that money, or maybe you have a little side project and so all the money from that goes into this account.

Being able to save ahead of time, especially for a time of year when you know you’ll spend a large amount of money, is very important. By using these savings, you won’t have to put everything on a credit card and end up paying those Finance Fees. So call your bank today, ask them about your options, and start saving!

I also have some systems to help keep my finances organized. I use Automatic Withdrawals for every bill possible. It’s safe to use, you still get a statement so you know exactly how much your bill is and when it will be taken from your account, and sometimes the business will even give you a $1 or .50 discount. I mean – a discount is always a discount! And then I am never left searching for a stamp when the check needs to get mailed, or realizing on the 13th of the month that I never paid that monthly bill due on the 1st. For most businesses, you can either call them or use their website to get Automatic Withdrawal set up. Their Customer Service Reps will be happy to help you out if you have any questions. I promise the few minutes you spend setting up the Automatic Withdrawals will save you time, and maybe some money in the future.

No matter how innocent it may be, forgetting to pay a bill can be costly. So take advantage of an easy, reliable way for you to stay on top of those payments with Automatic Withdrawals. And also……well I was going to say something funny here but I forgot what it was.

I know growing up I couldn’t stand it when my mom would yell, “Miranda – did you turn off the light in your room?” Well – mom had a reason, and I guess it’s time I start following the advice in my own home. If you take just one minute to walk through your home, making sure to turn off all lights and even unplug some unused electronics before a weekend trip away-that one minute in savings would be the equivalent of a $50 an hour wage. Sometimes saving money is really just about doing the little things, and doing them consistently- so that you can see the results…in your bank statement.

For more saving use the KCLY Radio Mall and find some businesses that you could shop and save with!