September doesn’t have December’s reputation for draining bank accounts, but it can create a surprisingly similar problem. School expenses continue after the first bell rings, fall activities begin, homeowners start preparing for colder weather, and retailers roll out sales designed to get shoppers thinking about the next season. Meanwhile, Labor Day trips and the first holiday purchases may still be sitting on a credit card. The danger isn’t usually one enormous September bill. It’s eight or nine ordinary expenses hitting during the same 30-day period. Here are nine places to look if your bank balance seems to be falling faster than expected this month.
