September, Small Wins & Getting My Ducks in a Row 🦆🍂
Y’all… welcome to September!
Can you believe we are already in the last few months of 2026? I swear this year has been flying by at record speed. One minute I was making my goals for the new year, and now here we are talking about fall, Christmas, and what on earth happened to the other eight months!
I haven’t been blogging nearly as much lately, mostly because I keep thinking, “I don’t really have that much going on.”
But maybe that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Sometimes life being a little boring means things are settling down. Sometimes it means we’re working quietly behind the scenes. And sometimes the biggest accomplishments aren’t exciting enough to make the evening news—but they’re still worth celebrating.
So today, I’m celebrating a few small wins.
💰 Money Matters: One BIG Payment!
Let’s start with one that makes me want to do a little happy dance.
This month I am making my LAST payment on my Jeep!
Y’all… HOW EXCITING IS THAT?! 🎉
I am so ready to be done with that $550-ish monthly car payment. Having that money freed up for other things is going to feel like getting a raise without actually getting a raise.
And believe me, I’m going to have to be intentional about where that money goes because I don’t want to look up six months from now and wonder where all that extra money disappeared to.
I’ve also made another pretty big decision when it comes to my finances.
I am no longer using my credit cards.
I’ve relied on credit cards for far too long, and I’ve reached the point where I know I have to break that cycle. That means there isn’t going to be a little piece of plastic waiting in my wallet to rescue me when I’ve spent more than I should.
If I’m out of money…
I’m out of money.
Period.
And honestly? That’s probably going to be a HUGE eye-opener.
This is a choice I’m making for the season of life I’m entering. One of my goals is to retire within the next five years or so, and I know I can’t get there while dragging a bunch of unnecessary credit card debt behind me.
So this may not always be easy.
But easy isn’t necessarily the goal.
Freedom is the goal.
I’m also going to start pulling out some cash every two weeks specifically for a vacation I’m planning for next year. I want that trip to be paid for before I go, which means there will be no vacation loan and no “I’ll figure it out later.”
Nope.
Future Karen is going to appreciate Present Karen putting some money aside. 😂
I’m trying to think ahead instead of constantly playing catch-up.
And that, my friends, is progress.
💌 A Little More Intentional With My Secret Sis
Another little thing I’m excited about is my Secret Sis group.
It’s a Christian-oriented Facebook group where we have a Secret Sis and exchange gifts and encouragement. I’ve received both of my gifts from my Secret Sis, and now it’s my turn to get hers sent out.
I’m planning to order her gift today, and I’ve also made a little goal for myself this month:
I want to send her a card of encouragement at least once a week.
I have noticed that it seems like people are pretty good about sending the gifts, but the cards and little notes of encouragement don’t happen quite as often.
And honestly, I think those little notes can mean just as much—maybe even more.
So I’m going to be intentional about it.
A little card.
A few encouraging words.
A reminder that somebody is thinking about you.
Sometimes that’s all someone needs.
And who knows? Maybe I’ll become the Secret Sis who overwhelms her with cards. 😂
🎄 And Yes… We’re Already Thinking About Christmas!
Now before anybody says, “Karen, it’s September! Put the Christmas tree away!”
Hold on. 😂
We are NOT putting up the tree yet.
But Mr. C and I are already planning for Christmas.
With us being on a limited budget, we have to be very mindful about what we’re buying. Between our children, spouses, ex-spouses and grandchildren, we’re buying for around 25 people.
TWENTY-FIVE.
That’s not Christmas shopping.
That’s a small retail operation. 😂
And let’s be honest… the 12 grandbabies are non-negotiable.
Those babies are getting Christmas presents. Period.
I’ve already purchased something for each of the grandchildren, averaging around $50 each. I’ve ordered everything through Amazon, so they’re already sitting in my “Christmas is coming whether I’m ready or not” pile.
Mr. C has three grandchildren he buys for—Lane, Landon and Sophie—and he’s already purchased their toys, also around $50 each.
But because they’re going on a cruise in May, he’s also planning to give them each $50 cash for spending money on the trip.
I actually love that idea.
It’s a Christmas gift AND something they’ll be able to enjoy while making memories.
He’s also planning to give Brody and Savannah $100 each for the cruise so they’ll have some spending money too.
As for the Brody bunch, they’re pretty much handled.
Well… almost.
I always like to get Brody a fun little gift, and I’m not sure what that will be yet, but I’m giving myself a $30-or-under budget.
Because apparently I can’t just give the man money.
I need to find something that makes Brody laugh. 😂
I’ve also gotten started on gifts for Elizabeth, Alisha and Savannah. I purchased some really cute makeup bag duos that my boss, Sherry, is creating and selling, so each of them has a set.
I’ve also got something in place for Trevor and Melissa.
So when I look at the Christmas situation as a whole, I realize…
I’m actually ahead!
And that feels really good.
Instead of December arriving with me running around like a Christmas elf who has completely lost her mind, I’m trying to spread everything out and buy things intentionally.
That’s really becoming my theme lately:
Be intentional.
Be intentional with my money.
Be intentional with my time.
Be intentional with the things I purchase.
Be intentional with the people I encourage.
And be intentional about the future I want.
Maybe that’s why I haven’t felt like I’ve had much to blog about lately.
I’m not constantly running from one thing to another.
I’m just quietly working on getting my life a little more organized, my finances a little healthier, and my future a little brighter.
And you know what?
Maybe those are some of the best stories to tell.
So here’s to September.
Here’s to small victories.
Here’s to paying off a Jeep.
Here’s to saying goodbye to credit cards.
Here’s to saving cash for future adventures.
Here’s to sending encouragement.
And here’s to being ridiculously early for Christmas shopping. 🎄😂
One small step at a time, y’all. That’s how we’re doing it.
