You know that feeling when you’re carrying too many bags and one of them has a hole in the bottom? You don’t realize it until you get home and half your groceries are scattered on the ground. Well, let me tell you something – the same thing is happening with your money, and most people have no clue they’re bleeding cash every single day.
As a financial planner in Houston TX, I see this pattern constantly. Hardworking Houston families making good money but wondering why they can’t get ahead financially.
I’ve been working with clients across Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, and The Woodlands for years, and I can tell you this: 90% of people are carrying around 3-5 financial “bags” with massive holes in them. They’re working hard, making decent money, but wondering why they can’t seem to get ahead. Sound familiar?
The September Wake-Up Call for Houston Families
September hits different for Houston families, doesn’t it? Kids are back in school (hello, unexpected expenses), your summer fun bills are rolling in, hurricane season preparation costs, and Q4 is staring you down like that bill collector you’ve been avoiding. This is when those holes in your financial bags become impossible to ignore.
As a personal finance coach in Houston, I just had a client – let’s call her Sarah – who makes $85,000 a year. She called me frustrated because she couldn’t figure out where her money was going. “I make good money,” she said, “but I’m still living paycheck to paycheck.”
After we did her financial bag check through our money management Houston process, we found she had five major money leaks draining $1,247 every single month. That’s nearly $15,000 a year just… gone. Poof. Like groceries falling through a hole in your shopping bag.
The 3 Most Common Money Bags with Holes
Over the years, I’ve identified the bags that cause the most damage for Houston area families. See if you recognize yourself:
Bag #1: The “I’ll Deal With It Later” Bag This bag is HEAVY. It’s stuffed with:
- Subscriptions you forgot about (Netflix, Hulu, that gym you haven’t been to since 2023)
- Insurance policies you’ve never reviewed (critical in hurricane-prone Houston)
- Bank accounts with fees you don’t even know you’re paying
- Credit cards with interest rates that would make your grandmother faint
I had one client paying $847 a year in subscription services he’d forgotten about. Eight hundred and forty-seven dollars! That’s a nice vacation or a solid emergency fund start.
Bag #2: The “Keeping Up Appearances” Bag Y’all know what I’m talking about. This is the bag filled with:
- Dining out because you’re “too tired to cook” (Houston has amazing restaurants, but they add up!)
- Clothes you wear once for Instagram
- That car payment that’s eating up 25% of your income
- Shopping therapy that doesn’t actually solve anything
I see people posting their new purchases online while their savings account is sitting at $73. That math ain’t mathing, honey.
Bag #3: The “I Don’t Know What I Don’t Know” Bag This is the sneakiest bag of all. It includes:
- Not maximizing your employer’s 401k match (that’s FREE money!)
- Missing out on tax deductions because you don’t know they exist
- Paying full price for insurance when you qualify for discounts
- Not taking advantage of HSA or FSA benefits
Why September is Your Money Bag Check Month in Houston
Here’s what most Houston area families don’t realize: September has more financial deadlines than any other month.
- September 15th: Third quarter estimated taxes are due (critical for Texas entrepreneurs and contractors)
- September 30th: Many companies’ FSA enrollment deadlines
- November 1st: Healthcare marketplace opens (you need to start preparing NOW)
- December 1st: You must be enrolled in an HSA-eligible plan by this date to make maximum contributions
- Hurricane season: Last chance to review your emergency fund and insurance coverage
Miss these dates, and you’re literally leaving money on the table. It’s like walking around with holes in your pockets – except worse, because you had the chance to fix them.
The Real Cost of Ignoring Your Money Leaks
Let me break this down for you. If you’re losing just $200 a month to financial bag holes (and most people lose way more), that’s:
- $2,400 a year
- $12,000 over 5 years
- $24,000 over 10 years
- $48,000 over 20 years
And that’s not even counting the compound interest you could have earned if you’d invested that money instead. We’re talking about six figures of lost wealth over your lifetime.
Time for Your Financial Bag Check
I’m not telling you this to scare you – I’m telling you because I’ve seen what happens when people finally get serious about plugging their money leaks. Remember Sarah? She took action. Six months later, she had her first $5,000 in emergency savings and was on track to max out her retirement contributions.
The difference between people who build wealth and people who struggle isn’t how much they make – it’s whether they know where their money is going.
Your September Action Plan
Before my webinar on Monday, September 16th at 7 PM, I want you to do this:
- Track every dollar for one week. I mean EVERY dollar. That $4 coffee, that $12 lunch, that random Amazon purchase.
- List all your subscriptions. Check your bank statements for the last three months. You’ll be shocked.
- Review your insurance policies. When’s the last time you shopped around for better rates?
- Check your 401k. Are you at least getting the full company match? If not, you’re literally turning down free money.
Don’t Let Another Day Go By With Holes in Your Money Bags
Listen, I’ve been where you are. As your financial advisor in Houston, I used to be number 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 on my own list of financial struggles. I watched my family fight about money, divorce over money, and struggle because they refused to face their financial reality.
I promised myself that wouldn’t be my story. And I’m here to help make sure it’s not yours either.
Join me Monday, September 16th at 7 PM for my “Financial Bag Check: Identify the 3 Bags Draining Your Wealth” webinar. This comprehensive financial planning Houston session goes deep – I’ll show you exactly how to find every single leak in your financial bags and give you the step-by-step system to plug them for good.
This isn’t just another financial webinar where someone talks at you for an hour. This is a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves session where you’ll walk away knowing exactly what’s been sabotaging your wealth and how to fix it.
We have both paid premium access with bonuses and free basic attendance options available. But either way, you need to be there.
Your future financially free self is counting on the decisions you make right now. Don’t let another September pass by with holes in your money bags.
[Register here] and let’s fix this together.
Your financial future starts with one honest bag check. Are you ready?
P.S. – If you can’t wait until the webinar and need help now, book time with me at https://www.dickeyfinancialfirm.com/book-me/. Let’s create a plan that actually works for YOU.