Mcdonald's and Tim Hortons One-up Starbucks and Dunkin' With Early Fall Pumpkin Treats

Tim Hortons is winning the race to introduce a fall menu full of pumpkin, apple, and maple flavors—and it'll be available at U.S. locations starting Wednesday, Aug. 21.

This year seems like a competition to be the first to offer the classic pumpkin spice latte and the other edible heralds of the autumnal season. See what's dropping first and find out what's new on the fall menu at Tim Hortons and McDonalds — and don't forget to check out some extra ways to save money so you can go out to eat more .

Don't miss: 8 clever ways to save money so you can still afford to eat out

1. Tim Hortons

Courtesy of Tim Hortons

The Canadian coffeehouse is releasing its fall menu on Wednesday, Aug. 21, for public consumption. This means it will be available for purchase before competitors like Starbucks or Dunkin' have officially confirmed their menus.

There are several new additions to the seasonal menu, too, and they all sound delicious. The Caramel Apple Latte and Chai Latte are new to the menu, both of which are available as hot or iced beverages.

Returning to the menu this year are everybody's favorites:

• Pumpkin Spice Iced Capp
  
• Pumpkin Spice Latte
  
• Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew with Cold Foam
  
• Maple Cinnamon Sugar Cold Brew
  

A few food items are returning, too, namely the pumpkin spice donuts and muffins and the Maple Waffle Sandwich.

While most of the menu is dropping on Wednesday, the Maple Waffle Sandwich and the Chai Latte will be available on Sept. 18.

Make Money: 8 things to do if you're barely scraping by financially

2. McDonald's

Courtesy of McDonald's

Some McDonald's customers have been delighted to discover that the pumpkin and creme pies are already on the menu at their local restaurants, but they have yet to be released everywhere. Customers craving the pastry stuffed with spiced pumpkin puree and vanilla creme will want to check their local locations to see if it's on the menu.

The Pumpkin and Creme Pie seems to be a regional menu item that has been rolled out in Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, Dallas, and Nashville markets. If it does well, it may be expanded to additional locations.

3. Starbucks

Courtesy of Starbucks

The official fall menu for the coffee giant will be revealed on Aug. 22, the day after Tim Hortons starts serving its seasonal menu. A leaked version on social media has been garnering attention, though, and expects the autumn seasonal drinks to start being available the last week of August.

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4. Dunkin'

Courtesy of Dunkin'

According to social media leaks, the national donut chain will officially announce its fall menu on Aug. 28, but leaks indicate what will be on the menu this year. There will also be a Halloween menu, allegedly for mid-October.

Bottom line

It's been a long, hot summer, and while we may not be quite ready to give up the heat yet, we are ready for fall flavors. The pumpkin spice craze isn't over and seems to be starting slightly earlier this year.

It's not all about the pumpkin, either, as many restaurant menus are also returning to classic fall flavors like apple cider and maple to round out the seasonal menu.

Grocery stores are starting to roll out seasonal offerings, too, so if rising prices have you planning to eat at home more often, make sure you check out the best grocery hacks to save money on your favorite fall flavors.

Money tips that can work for everyone

No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.

Focus on paying off your debt . Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.

Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.

Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).