We need to have a serious conversation.
Monday night’s financial planning Houston webinar was a wake-up call for so many people. The number of messages I got afterwards from folks in Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, and Cypress saying “I had no idea I was bleeding that much money” tells me everything I need to know. But here’s what’s got me concerned: we’re about to enter Q4 – the most expensive quarter of the year – and too many Houston families are still dragging around toxic money bags that will absolutely destroy their finances.
As an investment advisor in Houston, I see this pattern every year. October through December is when your financial weaknesses get exposed. Holiday spending, year-end expenses, hurricane recovery costs, and Q1 planning all hit at once. If you’re carrying toxic money bags right now, you’re not going to make it through Q4 without serious financial damage.
So let me be crystal clear about the three most toxic money bags you need to drop – TODAY – before we hit October.
The Three Bags That Will Ruin Your Q4 for Houston Families
After working with hundreds of clients through multiple Q4 seasons, I can predict with scary accuracy which money bags will take Houston area families down. These aren’t just “bad habits” – they’re financial toxins that get worse under holiday pressure.
Toxic Bag #1: The “I’ll Pay It Off After the Holidays” Bag
Y’all, this bag is POISON. It’s filled with:
- Credit cards you plan to use for Christmas shopping at The Galleria
- “Buy now, pay later” apps on your phone ready to go
- The mindset that January is when you’ll “get serious” about money
- Justifying debt because “it’s for family”
Let me tell you about Jennifer, a client from Pearland. Last September, she had $3,200 in credit card debt and swore she’d pay it off before the holidays. By January 2nd, she owed $11,847. The holidays didn’t just add to her debt – they multiplied it.
Why? Because when you’re already in debt, every holiday purchase gets layered with interest, late fees, and over-limit charges. That $500 Christmas gift actually costs $847 by the time you pay it off.
Toxic Bag #2: The “I Don’t Have Time to Budget During the Holidays” Bag
This bag gets heavier every day you avoid looking at your money. It contains:
- No spending plan for October-December (critical in Houston’s expensive holiday season)
- No idea what you actually spent last holiday season
- The excuse that budgets “ruin the holiday spirit”
- Financial stress that’s eating you alive, but you ignore it
Here’s the truth: The holidays don’t exempt you from math. December 25th doesn’t care about your budget. The credit card companies don’t give you a “Christmas grace period.” Your bills still come in January.
I had a wealth management Houston client tell me, “I’ll deal with my finances after New Year’s.” By January 15th, she was $8,200 deeper in debt, and her car was getting repossessed. The holidays didn’t pause her financial reality – they accelerated her financial destruction.
Toxic Bag #3: The “Everyone Else is Doing It Too” Bag
This is the most dangerous bag because it’s filled with lies:
- “Everyone puts Christmas on credit cards”
- “Everyone overspends during the holidays”
- “Everyone struggles financially in Q4”
- “I’ll figure it out like everyone else does”
No, honey. Everyone is NOT doing it. The people building wealth are making completely different choices during Q4. They’re the ones shopping with cash, sticking to budgets, and using the holidays to get AHEAD financially, not behind.
Stop using other people’s financial mistakes to justify your own.
Why Q4 Will Destroy Houston Families If You Don’t Drop These Bags
Here’s what most people don’t understand about Q4 financial pressure in the Houston area:
October hits you with:
- Hurricane recovery expenses are finally catching up
- Fall school activities and sports fees
- Halloween costume and candy costs
- Fall clothing needs for unpredictable Houston weather
- Higher utility bills as AC usage remains high
November brings:
- Travel costs for Thanksgiving (Houston airports get expensive)
- Black Friday spending pressure at local malls
- Early Christmas shopping
- Food costs for hosting a family
- The psychological pressure to “get deals”
December finishes with:
- Christmas gift expenses
- Holiday party costs (Houston has a big party scene)
- New Year’s Eve plans
- Vacation time (less income for many)
- Property tax bills for Houston homeowners
- The reality that January bills are coming
If you’re carrying toxic money bags into this storm, you’re going to get buried.
The Real Cost of Toxic Money Bags in Q4
Let me show you the math that’ll keep you up at night:
Average American Q4 spending: $1,986 above normal monthly expenses If you’re carrying toxic bags, multiply that by 2.5: $4,965 in additional debt. Interest on that debt at 24.9% APR: $1,236 per year Time to pay it of,f making minimum payments: 11 years and 3 months. Total cost: $13,847
That’s not Christmas spirit – that’s financial suicide.
It’s Not Too Late to Drop the Toxic Bags
Here’s what successful people do differently in Q4. They don’t avoid their money – they get strategic about it.
But here’s the problem: most financial advice tells you WHAT to do but not HOW to actually do it when you’re already struggling, stressed, and overwhelmed by the holidays.
That’s exactly why I’m hosting my second webinar: “Repair Your Money Bags: Plug the Leaks & Start Building Wealth” on Monday, September 30th at 7 PM.
This financial wellness coaching Texas session isn’t about restricting yourself during the holidays. This is about having a strategy that lets you enjoy Q4 without destroying your financial future.
I’m going to show you:
- How to detox your money bags before Q4 pressure hits
- The Q4 spending strategy that lets you enjoy the holidays AND build wealth
- How to turn holiday expenses into tax deductions and wealth-building opportunities
- The January financial recovery plan that puts you ahead instead of behind
Your Last Chance Before Q4
September 30th isn’t just another webinar date – it’s your last chance to get financially prepared before the holiday spending season begins.
After October 1st, you’re in reactive mode. You’ll be making financial decisions under pressure, without a plan, while everyone around you is spending money they don’t have.
The people who thrive financially during Q4 are the ones who prepare in September. The people who struggle are the ones who wing it.
Which one are you going to be?
We have both paid premium access with exclusive Q4 planning tools and free basic attendance available. But the spots are filling up fast because Houston families are finally understanding: you can’t afford NOT to be prepared for Q4.
[Register here now] before September 30th gets here and you’re still dragging those toxic bags behind you.
Your Q4 financial success isn’t about how much money you make – it’s about how prepared you are. And preparation starts with dropping those toxic money bags.
Don’t drag financial poison into the most expensive quarter of the year. You deserve better than that.
P.S. – Want to do a toxic bag check before the webinar? Book time with me at https://www.dickeyfinancialfirm.com/book-me/. Let’s identify what’s poisoning your wealth and create a plan to detox it.