Avoid the Autumn Budget Squeeze — Money Minute

The end of summer brings cooler temps, pumpkin spice lattes, and the anticipation of the holidays

Are you ready? Those lattes and the holidays can be expensive. The best way to keep more of your money in your pocket and still enjoy the festive season is to be proactive and practical

In other words, plan well and save well. Take the time now to review and evaluate spending and cut unnecessary expenses

Negotiate better deals on services like internet or cable. These companies want to keep you as a customer and are usually willing to work with you to keep your business

And as a rule, you should be reviewing your subscriptions annually anyway

It's also helpful to plan any shopping you do. Use coupons and stick to your list

Or better yet, have some no-spend weekends. Wherever you're able to save, reallocate those funds to a designated holiday spending account and keep it there

And don't put off maintenance on your house until winter when it becomes a bigger expense

Clean your gutters and furnace filters regularly. This keeps your bills lower, too

It's the little things that add up to big rewards. So plan well, save well, and savor the holidays