ChicagoHealers.com: Five tips to keep summer spending down

Julie Murphy • August 6, 2012

Looking to curb summer spending? Buy local! Street fests and farmer’s markets are two of Chicago’s favorite summertime activities.

This is a recent article I wrote for my good friends over at ChicagoHealers.com that was featured in their eNewsletter. Be sure to like them on Facebook , check them out on Twitter and sign up for their eNewsletter !

There’s something about summer in this great city that just makes people want to spend a little more. Winter leaves us cold and often without much sunshine. Once it hits 70 degrees, we’re ready to venture out sans jackets for some outdoor fun. Unfortunately, many of us take that opportunity to take a shopping offline and increase it with in-store purchases. Whether you’re taking a vacation or just taking a leisurely stroll downtown, there are ways to limit the amount you spend. Here are five tips to keep summer spending down.

Take a “daycation”
Though a full-fledged summer vacation may not be in the cards for everyone this year, that doesn’t mean you can’t still have a getaway. Take a “daycation” to some place you’ve never ventured to close to home. Hope in your car, drive a few hours, and see where you end up (and what you can find along the way).

Grab some cheap deals last minute
If you want a nice weekend getaway that’s too far to drive, booking early may not net you the best deal. But waiting until the last minute just might. Most airlines offer special fares during the week for weekend flights. United’s E-fares offer incredibly cheap flights to almost every major city in the United States. Head over to their website every Wednesday to see which deals you can grab for a last-minute weekend trip on Friday.

Pay cash one day a week
I’m all about setting an intention and following through, and I think scheduling a Cash Only Day a couple days per week is a great goal. I know how tempting it is to pull out the credit card at a local street fest for cute trinkets from a local artist. And what’s a $2 ice cream cone, really? Well those little purchases add up, especially if you’re making them through your Visa. Pick a day (or two or three, if you’re feeling adventurous), grab a set amount of cash and only use that for spending money.

Buy local
A great way to spend your Cash Only Day is by shopping locally for groceries. Surf the web for the farmers markets in your area, and do your produce shopping there instead of the grocery store. You can get everything from fruits and vegetables to homemade nut butters and even some breads and pastries. If it’s in walking distance, leave the car at home and make it a fun morning activity for the family (the dog too!). Since they are generally held in or near parks, the kids can keep busy and you can cross off an important item on your weekend to-do list.

Cook outside
Foods taste better when cooked over an open flame, and I’m not talking about just chicken and steak. Grilling your vegetables, cooking seafood and baking cakes all taste delicious when cooked outdoors. Why is cooking outside cheaper than your oven? The oven creates heat; when the house gets hotter, the air conditioning blasts longer. And that makes your electricity bill climb higher. So spend a one or two days a week cooking outside on the grill. The internet has an unlimited amount of recipes for delicious ways to grill almost anything. Be creative!

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How to End the Year Like the Wealthy Do

By Julie Murphy • December 10, 2025

Reset Your Money Energy for 2026 Every December, we all feel that pull, the desire to “be better with money next year.” But here’s the secret I’ve seen again and again after nearly three decades of walking alongside people from all walks of life: Financially wealthy people don’t just plan their next year — they energetically complete the one they’re leaving. They close loops. They clear emotional residue. They realign their energy field before they set a single goal. And you can absolutely do the same. As I share in The Emotion Behind Money , wealth is never created by logic alone. It comes from managing the emotions behind your money and understanding that money itself is energy. And in Awaken Your Wealth , I remind readers that energetic shifts begin when you consciously picture yourself stepping into a new reality, while compassionately acknowledging the one you’re standing in now. So let’s walk through the simple year-end process I teach my clients — one that spiritually, emotionally, and financially resets your money field for a powerful 2026. 1. Review Your 2025 Wins & Losses With Compassion Before you step into the new year, look back with the most loving, nonjudgmental eyes possible. I call it neutral observation . Wealthy people don’t spiral into shame when something didn’t go perfectly. They get curious. Ask yourself: Where did I expand financially this year? Where did I contract emotionally or economically? What choices were truly aligned with my values? Which ones came from fear, scarcity, or old patterns? In Awaken Your Wealth , the “Accepting Reality and Awakening” step of PACT teaches that awareness without judgment is how we break old money patterns for good. So breathe. Notice. Write it down. No shame. No spiral. Just truth. 2. Forgive Any Money Mistakes Here’s a truth most people never consider: Every financial mistake carries emotional weight and emotional weight blocks money flow. From my work in The 4 Spiritual Laws of Money , we know that your heart’s energy is more powerful than your brain’s logic, and intention is what redirects energy back into alignment. Forgiveness, of yourself, your past self, or others involved, releases stagnant money energy. Try this: Write down any money decisions from 2025 that still feel heavy. Place your hand on your heart. Say: "I forgive the version of me who made this choice. She/he did the best they could with what they knew at the time.” Forgiveness isn’t about letting mistakes slide. It’s about resetting your emotional money field so you can co-create something new. 3. Create an Energetic Closing Ceremony for the Year This is where wealthy people truly separate themselves; they honor the transition. You can create your own year-end ceremony using whatever resonates from your spiritual toolkit. Here are a few ideas inspired by the intention-setting and clearing practices throughout my work: Light a candle Symbolize releasing the old year and calling in the new. Write a “completion list” Include everything you’re ready to release: debts you’re no longer carrying shame over, relationships you’re energetically cutting cords from, patterns you’re finished reenacting. Burn or bury the list This physical act tells the Universe: “I’m done living from this version of myself.” In The Emotion Behind Money , we explore how inherited beliefs and emotional patterns repeat until they are consciously released. This ceremony is your line in the sand. End with intention Close with one powerful intention for 2026, aligned from your heart: “I choose a new flow of abundance.” “I trust that money comes to me with ease.” “I allow myself to receive the wealth I’ve been working toward.” As The 4 Spiritual Laws of Money reminds us: “The Universe responds to action.” Your ceremony is your spiritual action. Ready to Step Into 2026 Aligned, Clear & Empowered? If you’re craving deeper support with your financial reset, join me for my Emotions Behind Money Workshop in January. If you’ve been feeling the nudge to recalibrate your relationship with money, this is your moment. Let’s make 2026 the year your inner wealth and your financial reality finally match. You deserve abundance and you’re closer than you think. With love, alignment & a whole lot of possibility, Julie ✨