A Summer Well Spent, An August Well Planned
Written by Katrina Ridgeway
Summer has a funny way of charming us, doesn’t it? It woos us with longer days, vacations, poolside afternoons, and the promise that this ice cream run doesn’t really count. It romances us into slowing down, loosening the schedule, and living a little more in the moment. Before we know it, bedtimes are later, our calendars are fuller, and our budgets have become...let’s call them “optimistic.”
Truthfully? I wouldn’t have it any other way. Some of my family’s best memories are made in the summer. But by the time August rolls around, (at least in my house with four boys heading back to school and sports) we all start craving something we didn’t even realize we’d missed: routine.
Even if you don’t have school-aged children, there’s an energy this time of year that says, “Okay...it’s time to get back on track.”
As our family settles back into that rhythm, I find myself doing a reset too— not just with our schedule, but with my goals, my finances, and even my mindset. It feels like each new season is an invitation to pause, realign, and be intentional about what comes next.
That’s why I think August deserves just as much attention as January. In many ways, it feels like the year’s second New Year.
Reset Your Goals & Habits
Think back to the goals you set at the beginning of the year.
How are they going?
If you’re crushing them, celebrate! If they’ve taken a back seat, you’re in good company.
August is a great time to check in without the pressure of starting over. Maybe your goals have changed. Maybe life happened. Either way, you still have several months left to make meaningful progress.
Have summer vacations turned into more takeout than usual? Have you stopped contributing a little extra to savings? Have you been meaning to revisit your budget but haven’t found the time?
You don’t need a complete financial overhaul. Sometimes one or two small adjustments are enough to get back on track.
Reset Your Mindset
Before we know it, we’ll be in the busiest stretch of the year. School events turn into football games, which turn into holiday gatherings, shopping, travel, and year-end commitments. It happens fast.
August gives us an opportunity to pause before life speeds up again. Instead of asking, “How am I going to get through the rest of the year?” try asking, “How do I want to experience the rest of the year?”
That small shift changes everything. When we’re intentional instead of reactive, we’re more likely to make thoughtful decisions with both our time and our money.
Reset Beyond Your Finances
Money touches almost every part of our lives, but it isn’t the only thing worth evaluating.
August is also a great time to ask yourself:
Am I spending enough time on what matters most?
Do my calendar and my values actually match?
Am I making room for my health, relationships, and personal growth?
What do I want the last four months of this year to feel like?
After all, success isn’t measured only by your account balance. It’s also measured by whether you’re building a life you actually enjoy living.
Final Thoughts
Summer has a way of sweeping us off our feet, and I hope it always does. But before fall fills every square on your calendar and the holiday season arrives, give yourself permission to hit reset.
Revisit your goals. Refocus your mindset. Make sure your finances are supporting the life you’re working so hard to build.
You don’t need a new year to create a fresh start. Sometimes all you need is a new season.
Here’s to finishing the year with purpose, confidence, and plenty of room for what matters most.
Katrina Ridgeway, CFP®, LPL Financial Advisor
Katrina’s focus is financial planning and education. She is dedicated to helping clients and the community pursue their financial goals and assisting them along their journey to financial freedom.
Benchmark Wealth Management
5855 Ridge Bend Road
Memphis, TN 38120
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The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
There is no assurance that the views or strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes.
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