August Budget Toolkit

07/31/26 - Friday

July 31, 2026

Hey friends!

August always feels like the Sunday night of summer.

There’s still sunshine and watermelon, but suddenly everyone’s talking school supplies, routines, and “getting back on track.”

So before fall spending sneaks up on you, here’s your August game plan to save where it counts and spend intentionally on what actually matters.

🎧 What to include in August’s spending plan

August is a transitional month. Summer winds down, routines ramp up. Make room in your budget for:

  • The Spend Smart App! Until you understand why you're spending... no spreadsheet or budget app is going to fix it! Give us 12 weeks and we will help you TRANSFORM your spending habits. The app is 20% off through Aug 7th!

  • Back-to-School Costs: Supplies, clothes, activity fees, tech, and maybe a first day treat or two.

  • Childcare Shifts: If school starts mid-month, your schedule and costs might change suddenly. I am personally celebrating getting $100 per week BACK in my budget because WE ARE FINISHED WITH DAYCARE!

  • Labor Day/ End-of-Summer Fun: One last weekend getaway? Park passes? Beach gear? Now’s the time to plan!

  • Fall Prep: Think weatherproofing, wardrobe updates, or early holiday travel plans.

🛍️ What’s on sale in August

Back-to-school essentials
Best buys include notebooks, pens, backpacks, lunch boxes, basic sneakers, laptops, and printers. Be on the lookout for tax-free shopping in your state.

Patio furniture & outdoor gear
Best buys include patio dining sets, outdoor sectionals, umbrellas, and garden tools.

Grills & summer seasonal inventory
Best buys include gas grills, charcoal grills, outdoor cooking accessories, pool accessories, and summer sporting goods.

Have you been tracking your spending?

If your budget feels like 47 browser tabs open at once, Monarch** can help bring everything into one place. It tracks spending, subscriptions, savings goals, and investments without making you feel like you need a finance degree to understand your own money.

August is a great time to get back on track with budgeting and we want to help. Use code FRUGAL to get 50% off your first year of Monarch and alleviate some of that money anxiety this fall!

❌ What NOT to buy in August

  • Mattresses: Some of the best sales on mattresses come around Labor Day, so wait a month on this one.

  • Major Appliances: You might see appliance promotions in August, but Labor Day sales are usually stronger and broader.

  • TVs & Electronics: Black Friday pricing is dramatically better.

🥙What to cook in August

Look for this in-season (i.e., on sale!) produce:

  • Vegetables: Corn, zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, bell peppers, cucumbers

  • Fruits: Peaches, nectarines, watermelon, cantaloupe, berries, tomatoes, cherries

August is National Sandwich Month, so be on the lookout for deals on bread, deli meats, cheese, and condiments! 🥪

Meal plan ideas:

🤑 August’s Money Move: Audit your emergency fund

If you haven’t updated your target number in over a year, this month is a great time to revisit it.

Use Monarch or your preferred cash flow tool to determine what your current bare bones monthly spending is. We like to look at annual spending over the last year (essentials only) and divide by 12.

Then reevaluate if 3 months or 6 months is right for your family. Most people are fine with 3 months unless you’re a single-income household or both income-earners work at the same company.

And if your emergency fund is sitting in a low-interest account earning approximately three cents a year, you are actively losing money every month due to inflation. Your emergency fund needs to be in a high-yield savings account to protect its buying power.

We like CIT Savings Connect (funds < $5,000) or CIT Platinum (funds > $5,000) because of their competitive rates and easy access.

And remember, Spending is a skill, not a personality trait.

And skills can be learned.

If you've tried budgeting before and it didn't stick...

maybe you didn't need more discipline.

Maybe you just needed a better framework.

Warmest,
Jen & Jill

**Means this is a sponsored or affiliate section. We may earn a small fee or commission when you choose to try one of our sponsor or affiliate partners. But opinions are still 1000% our own.