A bright summer to an empty wallet: What the Russians save in the autumn

According to the Alfa-Money study, for most, summer is a season of increased spending. So, 60% of respondents honestly admitted that in June, July and August they spent significantly more than usual. And if you're nodding your head right now, thinking, "This is about me," you're definitely not alone.

The most obvious expense is vacation and travel. They were the main reason for the increase in spending of 40% of respondents. And then the Tula have their own specifics: someone flies to the sea, someone goes to relatives in another city, and someone arranges a “mini-vacation” in glamping near Tula or at a recreation center near Oka. And it may not be the Maldives, but the amount in the check still turns out to be impressive.

Then there are quite seemingly inconspicuous spending, which in total hit the budget more than it seems:

• Cafes, restaurants and food delivery. 22% of respondents admitted to eating out more often than usual in the summer. Warm weather, long walks, meetings with friends - and now instead of home dinner, you order pizza or get coffee with dessert. It's a small thing, and it's pretty good.

• Preparing children for school. 21% increased spending on this. And many shop in the summer not because it is necessary, but because you want: "Now discounts, now the choice is more, now it is not so fussy." As a result, the backpack, uniform, shoes and office quietly eat up a decent part of the budget.

• Entertainment and activities. 18% were actively spent on festivals, concerts, weekend trips and just “to have something to remember”. Summer is short and I want to do everything.

At the same time, there are those who managed not to go broke: 30% of Russians said that their spending in the summer almost did not change, and 11% even spent less than usual. Maybe they just don't like summer. Have you learned how to plan your budget?

When summer ends, the moment of truth comes: it is time to return to the usual rhythm of spending. But it's not easy to do that - the budget seems to be resisting. According to the survey, 53% of Russians felt that summer spending left a noticeable mark on their finances: someone had to cut spending a little, and someone – to take up savings.

This is where the real “financial reset” begins. Here are the tactics people choose to use to feel confident again:

• Time savings. 81% go the easiest way: temporarily abandon optional purchases, look for shares, compare prices and try to spend only on essentials. In Tula, this is especially convenient: chain stores, marketplaces and local promotions allow you to save significantly, if you are not lazy to compare.

• Delaying major purchases. 36% decide that a new TV or furniture set will wait until better times. And it works: Giving up one big spend can free up a decent monthly budget.

• Reducing entertainment costs. 28% forget about cafes, movies and weekend trips, choosing more budget options for leisure — or even do without it. For some, this is a test, and for others – a chance to discover free joys: walks in the park, picnics, board games at home.

As the budget begins to recover, priorities change dramatically. In the autumn, people primarily cover basic needs, and this is logical. Here's what the default budget looks like after the summer rampage:

Products and everyday purchases – 76% It's a foundation without which to go.

• Housing and utilities – 25%. You need to pay for an apartment every month, and this item of expenses does not disappear anywhere.

Health: 23 percent. In autumn, many people remember about vitamins, medicines and visits to doctors.

Rest and entertainment – 21%. Yes, you do not want to give up joys at all, but spending here is much more modest than in the summer.

• Expenditure on children – 20%. School, mugs, sections, clothes – this article remains important all year round.

It turns out that after the summer, the budget first tightens the belt on optional spending, and then gradually returns them back - but in a calmer mode.

And now the most interesting thing is the timing. How long does it take to feel like the budget is okay?

• Already recovered. 33% of respondents said that they managed to return the budget to its usual level.

• In progress. Another third is still on the way.

• One or two months. This is how long it takes for the majority of respondents – 39% of respondents called this period the most realistic.

Less than a month. The 20 percent manage faster — they seem to have either less spending or a more flexible budget.

• Three to four months. 26% admit that the financial reset takes longer.

Over four months. For 14%, returning to normal spending is a matter of six months or more.

That is, for almost every second Russian (and Tulyak), the restoration of the budget is not a couple of weeks, but a full-fledged project lasting several months. And if you’re thinking, “I’ve got it too,” don’t worry: it’s normal, not a sign of bad financial behavior.

If you’re just in the process of getting back to your budget, here are some simple, but workable tips:

• Keep a short daily spending list. It is not necessary to put a complex application - enough notes on the phone. The main thing is to see where the money goes.

• Divide the cost into “need” and “want”. First, close the mandatory payments (housing, loans, products), and only then think about the rest.

• Use cashback and stock. In chain stores and marketplaces, you can save 10-20% if you track profitable offers in advance.

• Move major purchases. If you plan to change equipment or furniture, it is better to wait a couple of months until the budget becomes more stable.

• Start saving a little. Even 1-2 thousand rubles a month will help to create a pillow that will help in the next season of spending.

Summer is a time when you want to live at full and not think about pennies. But autumn inevitably reminds us that the budget is like a muscle: if it is loaded for a long time, it needs time to recover. For many Tulaks, this process takes one or two months, and someone needs more. The main thing is not to scold yourself for summer spending, but to calmly and systematically return finances to the usual rhythm. And then next season will be a little calmer.