When fall rolls in, I always picture cozy sweaters, crisp apples, and simmering pots of stew. But let’s be real—2025 has brought a different picture too: stubborn inflation that makes every trip to the grocery store feel like a budgeting battle. Prices aren’t what they used to be, and like many families, I’ve had moments of staring at my cart and wondering how essentials could add up so fast.

When I first jumped into freelancing, I took every job that came my way—editing product blurbs, ghostwriting blog posts, even transcribing interviews about orthopedic insoles. It was a scrappy way to learn the ropes, but the real turning point came when I narrowed my focus.