Fun And Frugal Ideas For Fall

Fall is such a gorgeous time of year- the colors, the scents, and of course- the relief from the searing hot weather of summer!  Fall is filled with new adventures, flavors and things to try, but luckily it doesn’t have to be a budget buster!

Most of us relish in the new season, so, before it gets cold (since I totally HATE winter) get out there and live it up this fall with some fun and frugal ideas to enjoy the fall season!

Here are some of my favorite ideas to have a fun and frugal fall:

–  Run In A Halloween Race or a Virtual Run for a good cause

–  Discover a new trail in your area to discover the fall color, bring your camera!

–  Bonfires + Marshmallows: S’mores aren’t just for summer!  Enjoy the warmth of the fire and gooey goodness over an open flame.

–  Make your own pumpkin spice coffee (pumpkin spice creamers & beans are much cheaper than lattes!)

–  Spice up your beauty routine: experiment with nail polish shades, liquid eyeliner and smoky colors to prepare your Halloween look.

–  Find a local pumpkin patch (helpful directory here or use Google!) for a fun day and stock up on fall foods.

– Bake squash: My favorite is acorn squash, cut in half, remove seeds, add a spoonful of brown sugar and butter- bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until soft and brown.  (Eat it with a spoon in a bowl, mashing the sugar and butter around within the skin.)

–  Put pumpkin pie spice in everything-  in waffle mix, on cinnamon rolls and in your morning shakes. Cheap & delicious.

–  Tailgate like there’s no tomorrow. If you’re far from a game, have people over to watch a game, potluck style.  It’s a great time to preview holiday appetizer recipes to figure out what you like making.

– Start perfecting your holiday baking.  Learn from my past mistakes and test out some of your new Pinterest recipes before Thanksgiving and Christmas rolls around!  Take a weekend to familiarize yourself with new techniques and recipes before the hectic holidays set in.

–  Savor pumpkin ales.  Pumpkin ales are phenomenon, support local breweries by shopping at your local supermarket to have have a “tasting party” or visit their location to take a free tour and sip.

– Start your Christmas gifts!  If you’re a crafter, start on your scarves and your handmade projects outside while the weather is still good for painting, sanding, dyeing and assembling.

–  Have a fall photo shoot.  Capture the color of the falling leaves by using it as a playful backdrop for a family photo.  Invest in a cheap camera remote so the whole family can be in the picture!

– Decorate and craft with pine cones, leaves and acorns– great for tablescapes, vase fillers and wreaths you can DIY at home.  Check out some of my favorite inexpensive fall centerpiece ideas.

– Go thrifting for decorations.  I found brand new items from last year’s Target inventory with tags still on for 1/4 the price including Halloween socks, LED decorations, candy bowls, stuffed toys and dog costumes!

– Knit a scarf or crochet a hat.  I’m a horrible knitter but making a rectangle with cheap yarn or odds ‘n ends of existing yarn for a patchwork look is easy. Crocheting a circle for a hat= also super easy.  Handmade cowls with chunky buttons are cozy and far less expensive to craft than a full sweater, there are plenty of free crotchet and knitting tutorials on Pinterest with a quick search.

Add a ribbon bow or vintage brooch that you pick up from thrift and you’ve got a statement piece you’ll love all season!

– Savor the shorter days and change up the lighting in your home.  Add a cozy vibe to your house or apartment by adding a candle centerpiece to your coffee table or switching out the lightbulbs in your lamps, opting for a warmer glow.

– Swap out your linens & accents.  Most of us get in a routine, but if you have a spare set of sheets and usually opt for the same set, swap them out!  You can easily swap out throw pillows and store the extras in a space saver vacuum sealed bag to save space.   Put some of the clutter away or take some time to rearrange your bookshelf, using new accents as bookends.

– Donate.  Every fall, I try to go donate blood- but if needles aren’t your thing, consider donating at a local charity that calls to you. Often food banks have plenty of volunteers on Thanksgiving, but animal shelters and local non-profits need help with daily operations before the holidays pick up.