April Budget Toolkit

Hi 👋

We’re just a few days out from the end of Q1, which means it’s time to set our sights on spring goals & skate on into April’s new budget. 

This month, we have the lowdown on what to spend on, where to save, & big money moves that will make Q2 even more successful than Quarter 1! Happy budgeting. 🌈 

What to Include in April’s Spending Plan 📝

• Holidays. This year, Easter is on April 20th. If it’s something your family celebrates, plan to budget for travel costs, food, and outfits for family photos. Not a holiday for you? That’s fine, but don’t forget the extra costs for all the candy & egg hunts!

• Extra IRA Contributions. There’s still time left to contribute to last year’s IRA. Write it into the budget and future you will be thankful. ✍️

• Garage Sales. There are a few reasons why garage sales are so popular in April, which we’ve listed below:

  • Warmer weather = more time outside.

  • Spring cleaning has commenced.

  • Transitional months tend to lead to increased sales volume.

  With this list in mind, think about how you can take advantage of traditional garage sales to stock up on pre-loved items you need, especially seasonal items! 

• Bridal Showers. Wedding season is almost upon us, and that means bridal showers up the wazoo. Budget for gifts, travel, and time costs as we enter shower season. (Brings a whole new meaning to “April Showers”) 

What’s on Sale in April 📢

• Cookware. With weddings, graduations, and spring refreshes coming up, now is one of the best times to buy new cookware. If you need new pots & pans, check out our list of Best Affordable Cookware!

• Beauty products. Calling all skincare heroes! We have a secret to share 🤫Ready? Popular beauty supply chains like Ulta & Sephora clear their stock out in April, leading to big spring sales. Let it be known that this is a marketing tactic – blowout sales coincide alongside spring for a reason, but if you need new makeup, now is the time to buy it. Be smart, be prepared, and happy shopping! 

• Gardening supplies. We’re not quite to gardening season in most of the country, but stores are offering discounts in anticipation of milder weather. Consider purchasing bulbs, soil, and gardening tools to get a jump on the deals. 

April’s Big Money Move 📑

🥳 Bi-Annual Subscription Negotiation Marathon 🥳

It’s time to call your providers & negotiate subscription plans. From WiFi to car insurance, it’s all negotiable, and succeeding with even one bill can make a big impact to your spending plan.

1. Listen to How to Negotiate & Save Lots of Money (Ep 339) and Negotiating Medical Debt with Dr. Virgie Bright Ellington (Ep 230). We cannot stop recommending Dr. Bright-Ellington’s episode! It’s saved listeners thousands of dollars and sheds light on the complexity of our healthcare billing systems. 🎧

2. Make a plan. Go in with a clear idea of what you want ($10 decrease/month, free cable, etc.), or a script (if possible) to increase your odds of success. 

3. Use our handy list of bills to negotiate.

   a. Monthly subscriptions

   b. Medical bills

   c. Cell phone

   d. Internet 

   e. Housing costs

   f. Gym memberships

   g. Credit card interest rates

   h. Home security services 

4. Put the money that you save in a High-Yield Savings Account! You did all the work to save money, now it’s time to let CIT take over and put in the work to make your money grow. Right now, CIT is offering a 4.00% APY on their savings connect account. **

What to Cook 👩‍🍳

April is the perfect time to lean into the spring season by preparing light, citrusy meals. Try out these three recipes for a fun, lemony twist! We’ve got dinner, a side dish, and dessert this month for all your prepping needs. 🍋

• 🍗 Chicken with Lemon & Thyme (Almanac)

• 🌿 Roasted Asparagus with Lemon & Peas (Pumpkin N’ Spice)

• 🧁 Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins (Handle the Heat) + this is a 25 minute bake!!

Sunday’s episode was a game-changer for homeowners out there, especially those that live in warm climates. Check out: How Jen Saved $2,000 With This $6 Product for a hot take on home care. 

We’re in our underconsumption era, and to succeed, we need a game plan. On Tuesday, we outlined Tips to Succeed With Your Low-Buy Year and Combat Overconsumption (Ep 496) for us ✨conscious✨ girlies. 

After celebrating International Women’s Day in March, it’s important to continue empowering yourself & other women to make big moves, and investing is one of them! Listen to: Investing for Financial Freedom: A Woman’s Guide with Nicole Stanley (Ep 497) now. 

Tune in wherever you get podcasts and let us know what you thought of the episode over on our latest Instagram post!

Later alligator 🐊
Kim

⭐️⭐️ P.S. Want to share all this goodness with your friends AND earn cool Frugal Friends merch?

**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.