Turbo Takeaways
- Fall spending often outpaces budgets and leads to debt.
- Consumers continue to spend more on fall festivities, with decor, food, and other autumn merchandise sales topping $13 billion in 2025.
- Smart spending choices can protect consumers from accumulating debt before holiday shopping begins.
Falling for Fall Spending
I'll admit, when the end of August hits, I'm all in for pumpkin anything. When a certain food store rolls out flavors heavy on fall vibes, I'll drop $50 on everything from cookies to soup.
If you love autumn merch as much as I do, fall spending habits can really sneak up on you, leading to debt as one shopping season blends into another.
When you've gotta' have those pillows with puppies on a hayride, that's probably all right for your credit card balance. A few extra runs to the coffee shop for everyone's favorite latte? The budget can probably stretch a teeny bit.
Thankfully, splurges aren't habits. What you do with your money every day will make the biggest difference between landing in debt or staying out of it.
So, buy your pumpkin spice, but swap out ordering lunch. More decor? Be thrifty with entertainment. Making smart choices in the fall season can shape the rest of your year… and the next.
How Much Do People Really Spend During the Fall Season?
According to Money magazine, overall fall prices have risen about 63% in the past two decades. This includes everything from Autumn decor to trick-or-treat chocolates and pet costumes.
Last year, Halloween spending alone was predicted to be over $13 billion, with plenty of money shelled out on the big three:
- Costumes: $4.3 billion
- Decor: $4.2 billion
- Candy: $3.9 billion
Nearly 40% of consumers admit they overspend on Halloween merch, with Millennials and Gen Z leading the way. Many say they're swayed by social media trends and purchases made by family and friends.
Some shoppers admit they actually spend $400 or more on the perfect Halloween experience. This can include paying big bucks for fall festivals or spooky happenings, plus the costumes, candy, and decorations.
Whether you’re drawn in by flavors, gourds, or ghouls, all the fall things can quickly lead to debt.
Did You Know?
You could pay even more for your fall cravings depending on where you live. Certain coffee chains price their PSLs dynamically, which means costs are based on the location where you purchase your drink.
How Fall Spending Leads to an Avalanche of Debt Later
A few extra Autumn goodies won't break the bank in most cases, but the trouble is, fall is also the start of holiday shopping for many people. In fact, over 20% of consumers start making holiday purchases before October hits.
This number continues to grow as savvy shoppers notice fewer deals are hitting later in the season. With the rise of Buy Now, Pay Later from major retailers, it's tempting to snag gifts early when a sale pops up, or you scroll to just the right item online.
Accumulating big balances on your credit cards in the fall means debt can pile up as you enter the holiday season. The next thing you know, you're starting the new year with too much credit card debt, making minimum payments with sky-high interest.
By the time your January credit card comes due, you could be stuck with massive bills that snowballed because of purchases from September to December.
At TurboDebt, we enroll clients who carry an average of $24,000 in unsecured debts, often from credit cards. This kind of balance doesn't just come from fall purchases, but it's easy to get the ball rolling with an excess of seasonal spending.
How To Build Better Spending Habits This Fall
From fall splurges to early holiday shopping, keep your finances in check with these smart money practices:
1. Avoid Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)
With discounts scarcer during last year’s holiday shopping season, many retailers expanded their BNPL offerings. While this may seem like a good idea, Buy Now, Pay Later comes with interest and fees that increase your debt if you don't pay the full amount within a small window. Additionally, BNPL can negatively impact your credit score when you make late payments or can’t pay off your balance when it’s due.
Did You Know?
Retailers predicted BNPL spending to increase by 11% in 2025, driving over $20 billion in spending, according to Retail Brew.
Instead, buy only what you can pay off at the end of the month. Plan to spread out big purchases or find an alternative product that doesn't cost more than you can afford to pay. Maybe you can piece together a costume instead of Broadway-quality garb for two installments.
2. Use a Debit Card for Seasonal Shopping
To avoid the pain of BNPL and credit card bills, use debit cards to shop. That way, you'll only spend what you have instead of saving the payment for later.
Be careful not to overspend and face fees from your bank. Creating a budget can help you manage your spending on both debit and credit cards. Determining how much you can pay toward fall items plus holiday shopping cuts down on costly splurges.
3. Purchase with Cash
Another savvy tactic is to budget money for fall shopping and put the cash amount in an envelope. This method really forces you to map out your spending and works as a visual reminder of your income versus costs. When the money's gone, no more PSLs!
4. Get Crafty
You've probably heard the adage “necessity is the mother of invention,” and it's true of financial ingenuity too. Here are some quick ideas to get you saving creatively:
- Use nature for decor.
- Bake your own pumpkin treats.
- Host a costume swap with friends.
- Craft something new from your current supplies.
- Host low-budget events like themed movie parties, a DIY popcorn and candy station, or backyard scare fests.
Can Pumpkin Spice Season Lead to Debt?
Whether you live in a place where cozy sweaters come out in September, or you're still sweating when you put the pumpkins on the doorstep, the temptation of fall spending is real and costly.
With many consumers excited to dig into seasonal flavors and merch, retailers are happy to oblige. Aisles stocked with fake leaves and cinnamon-spiced delights are enough to make even the most guarded shopper indulge.
But stock up with care. Too many Autumn splurges can lead to inflated credit card bills before the holiday shopping season even sets in, making balances hard to handle come January.
American consumers already carry a combined credit card debt of over $1 trillion in Q2 2026, making savvy shopping a must this fall.
Little changes to your fall spending habits can make a big difference! Don't wait until the pumpkins come out to start budgeting and planning for smart spending the rest of the year.
After all this fall flavor talk, here's a bonus “recipe” from the TurboDebt team. It hits differently than a PSL, but hopefully you'll enjoy it.
Pumpkin Spiced Debt
Ingredients
- 1 cup of credit card bills
- ½ cup of personal loans
- 1 tablespoon of private student debt
- A dash of pumpkin spice latte bills
Instructions
- Enroll all ingredients
- Mix well with a debt specialist until smooth
- Bake in the TurboDebt® oven on low heat for about 24–48 months*
- Enjoy paying off debt with a warm beverage and a comfy blanket
Debt Can Be Scary! Let TurboDebt® Help You Chase It Away
Even without seasonal spending, debt can quickly become a roadblock to financial success. If you're carrying thousands of dollars in unsecured debts such as credit card balances or personal loans, partner with TurboDebt® for a customized debt relief plan.
We've helped thousands of consumers make affordable monthly payments and finally overcome debt. With over 20,000 positive reviews from our clients, we're a trusted partner for debt relief.
More reasons to enroll with TurboDebt:
- Pay off debt in 24-48 months (typically)
- Save up to 45% on your total enrolled debt (before fees)
- No late fees on monthly debt payments
- No upfront fees and no fees until debt is paid off
- Personal and expert service
It only takes a few minutes to find out if you qualify for our debt relief program. Contact the TurboDebt team today!