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February Budget Toolkit
01/30/25 - Friday
Hey friend,
February might be short, but it has a very specific spending personality. Fewer days. More cold. More “I deserve a little something” energy.
This February Budget Toolkit is here to help you plan for what actually comes up this month, not what we wish wouldn’t.
💳 What to Include in February’s Spending Plan
These are the expenses that tend to show up in February whether we plan for them or not.
Valentine’s Day and relationship spending
This doesn’t have to mean expensive dinners or gifts, but it often means something. Cards, flowers, a date night, or a shared experience still count. Decide ahead of time what feels meaningful so you’re not panic spending on the 14th.
Winter utility bills
Heating costs often peak in February. If your bills spike this month, that’s normal. Build that reality into your plan instead of trying to offset it with unrealistic cuts elsewhere.
Cold weather convenience spending
More delivery. More drive-through. More “it’s too cold to cook.” If winter fatigue is real for you, give it a line item instead of pretending you’ll suddenly love meal prepping in February.
Annual or semi-annual renewals
Gym memberships, software tools, subscriptions, or insurance payments often hit early in the year. If it didn’t come through in January, check your statements so nothing sneaks up on you.
🛍️ What’s on Sale in February
February is a surprisingly good month to buy a few specific things.
🧣 Winter clothing and coats: Retailers are clearing out winter inventory. If you need boots, sweaters, or a coat you’ll wear next year, this is the time (looking at you parents!)
🛋️ Home goods and furniture: Presidents’ Day sales usually mean real discounts on mattresses, furniture, and appliances. Only worth it if it was already on your list.
🏋🏻♂️ Fitness gear and wellness items: New Year resolution season is fading, which means discounts on workout gear, yoga mats, and fitness accessories.
🍫 Chocolate and seasonal candy: Right after Valentine’s Day is peak clearance time. Best time to buy chocolate IMHO.
👩🏻🍳 What to Cook in February
Cooking with what’s in season keeps your grocery bill grounded.
Seasonal produce that’s probably on sale right now
Cabbage
Carrots
Sweet potatoes
Onions
Citrus like oranges and grapefruits
Easy February meals
🍗 Herb & Citrus chicken with roasted carrots
These meals are filling, affordable, and great for cold nights when takeout feels tempting.
🎧 On the Pod 🎧
We’re talking about realistic income ideas that don’t require another full time job or a massive upfront investment. No hype. No gimmicks. Just options that work for normal people with real lives.
A natural next step if extra income is on your mind
One of the ideas we love because it doesn’t require special skills or long hours is reselling returned items locally.
That’s why we like Sharetown.
Sharetown lets you earn money by picking up returned items from major retailers and reselling them in your area.
You control your schedule, how much you take on, and when you work.
If you’re curious about flexible income that fits around your existing life, this is worth checking out. **
Final reminder ⏰
Today is the LAST DAY to fill out our 2026 Listener Survey.
If you want a say in:
★ What topics we cover
★ What we stop talking about
★ What would actually help you this year
This is your chance.
Thanks for being here and for doing the kind of planning that makes the rest of the year feel easier.
We are cheering you on,
Jen and Jill
P.S. February isn’t about perfection. It’s about staying intentional when motivation dips.
**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.