💭 5 Notes: Slowing down, fall finances, home decor tips, and getting ready for cozy season

Welcome to Thursday! Today, we're chatting about:

• Today’s affirmation for slowing down

• Our fall financial tips

• Your money is sleeping

• How to keep your decor fresh throughout the seasons

• Ellie gets ready for cozy season

Today’s Affirmation

"I move at the pace this season is actually asking for."

How to Give Your Finances a Fall Refresh

There's something about fall that makes everything feel a little more organized, and that goes for finances too. After a summer of loose spending and spontaneous plans, it's the perfect time to bring a little structure back.

A few small habits go a long way. Settling back into a regular routine naturally brings spending habits along with it, and once that's in place, a quick budget check-in (especially after any big life changes) becomes a lot easier. It's also worth peeking at interest rates to see if refinancing a mortgage or student loans makes sense, and taking a moment to boost retirement or HSA contributions before the year wraps up. And if summer spending pushed savings goals off track, thinking in percentages rather than dollar amounts can make catching back up feel a lot more doable.

Your Money Is Sleeping

Most people don't keep all of their money invested. Thousands of dollars often sit idle in checking accounts. Not because people don't want to earn more, but because doing so usually means opening a new bank account, chasing promotional rates, manually moving money, and repeating the process whenever rates change. It's a recurring chore.

Rivo eliminates that hassle. Connect your existing bank account once, and Rivo monitors your cash flow to identify money you're not using. It automatically moves eligible funds into short-term U.S. Treasury Bills (backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and widely considered among the safest investments available), then moves the money back before upcoming bills or expenses.

No switching banks. No recurring transfers. No constant monitoring. Just a smarter way to put idle cash to work while keeping the bank account you already use every day.

Try Rivo now.

Thank you to Rivo for sponsoring Note To Self. 

5 Spots in Your Home to Update as the Seasons Change

1. 🛋️ Living room: Swap throw pillows to match the season's palette (think cranberry and olive for fall, soft pastels for spring). An easy, low-effort way to shift the whole room's mood.

2. 🚪 Powder room: Freshen up with a new hand soap, a plush towel, and a few flowers. Small, tasteful touches go a long way in this high-traffic little space.

3. 🛏️ Bedroom: Change out bedding for the season, layer a rug over carpet for extra winter coziness, and rotate a piece of art or a lampshade for something new to look at.

4. 🍽️ Dining room: Update the tablescape with seasonal runners, placemats, and a rotating centerpiece. An easy way to instantly transform the whole room without much storage hassle.

5. 🚶 Front porch or entryway: Lean on natural elements like potted plants, wreaths, or dried flowers. A few well-chosen pieces make a strong first impression without a full overhaul.

Self-Care with Ellie: Hello, Cozy Season

Enjoying Note to Self?