It may be 94 degrees where I’m at, but I’m in a Fall state of mind at the moment. That means I’m resharing this great guest post from Scarlett. Scarlett is the owner of ThirtyEight Investing, a platform that empowers everyday women to live out their optimal lives, using down-to-Earth money guidance!
There are countless ways to be frugal, but it can be hard to come up with cheap family activities in the fall!
What makes being frugal in the fall different from other seasons?
There are many factors that make fall a unique time to practice your frugality! This season calls for cooler weather, family gatherings, and sports!
This article will outline 10 unique and fun activities that you’ll love this season!
These are 10 frugal activities your family will love in the fall:
1. Picking Fruits
2. Have a Bonfire
3. Football Watch Party
4. Attend Fall Festivals
5. Make a Picnic
6. Bake Desserts
7. Make Fall Crafts
8. Visit Farmers Markets
9. Make Hot Drinks
10. Go on a Hike
1. FRUIT PICKING
There are multiple unique fruits in the fall that your family can go on a trip to go pick!
For example, apple picking is one of the most popular. There are still other options though, like picking pumpkins, grapes, or other small fruits.
There are many places that also have hot cider, face painting, and other fun activities that your kids can enjoy. Take advantage of free opportunities!
2. HAVE A BONFIRE
Bonfires are popular to have in the fall! Plus, bonfires can be free to host or join!
If you have a firepit or similar equipment, hosting a bonfire is a cheap way to have a ton of fun with family and friends!
Here are a few examples of ways to spruce up your next frugal bonfire!
- Have each guest bring a packaged food item to roast (marshmallows, hot dogs, etc.)
- Prepare fun group games
- Set up music from your phone or a small speaker
3. FOOTBALL WATCH PARTY
The fall season is full of sports so it will be easy to find a local game on TV!
What’s great about hosting or attending football watch parties is that they last awhile and are extremely cheap!
Sometimes all it may cost you is less than $10 of chips and queso. Plus, not only can your entire family get involved but your friends can have a blast, too!
4. ATTEND FALL FESTIVALS
A simple Facebook Event search can pull up dozens of fall festivals within seconds! Fall Festivals are fun gatherings at schools, churches, or other local businesses that are typically filled with games, candy, activities, and tons of fun!
What’s better is that most fall festivals are free! If you are charged an entrance fee, it usually is less than $5 per person.
One way to stay in-budget is to eat beforehand to avoid wanting to spend money on all the snacks that are typically at these festivals!
5. MAKE A PICNIC
Fall is known for its gorgeous weather. One fun and frugal way to save money this season is to have a picnic!
There are many easy ways to keep a picnic inexpensive. First, be sure to use food that you already have! Make sandwiches or wraps, for example.
Be sure to find a park or somewhere local that you can enjoy your picnic at. Many people bring yard games or board games to pass time.
6. BAKE DESSERTS
A fun activity you can enjoy this fall is to bake or make desserts!
Fall is known for its food. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are a ton of opportunities to learn new desserts.
If you are looking for a fun and frugal activity to spend time with your family, below are a handful of great ideas!
- Make caramel apples
- Bake a pie from scratch
- Make homemade sugar cookies
- Make your own cobbler
7. MAKE CRAFTS
The fall season is a fun time to spruce up the home with decorations!
However, there are a few ways you can take this up a notch, without spending much money at all!
For example, you can make cards for the elderly in a local nursing home using materials from a local dollar store.
Or, you could find pinecones and acorns from a neighborhood walk and place them throughout your home.
There are countless ways to use inexpensive materials to create fun decorations. Use Pinterest to find tons of budget-friendly ideas!
8. VISIT FARMERS MARKETS
Visiting Farmers Markets is a great way to pass time and enjoy the outdoors with your family!
Farmers Markets are typically free to enter and sometimes have games, activities, taste testing, or other unique experiences.
Most people attend Farmers Markets just to see the interesting crafts and creations. You don’t even have to spend a dollar to have fun!
9. MAKE HOT DRINKS
When you think of the fall season, many people think of hot apple cider or hot chocolate.
These drinks are comforting and delicious, especially with the cool weather!
What’s better is spending time with your family making these by scratch! Most recipes call for a crockpot and can be inexpensive to make!
Then, you can fill up tumblers and go for a walk, fill up tupperware and deliver your drinks to neighbors, or simply sit by an outdoor firepit.
This activity is a fun way to spend time with family and not worry about spending much money!
10. GO ON A HIKE
Not every location will have somewhere to hike, but going outdoors is one of the best ways to spend time with family for cheap during the fall season!
No matter where you live, there is sure to be a trail, coastline, park, or quiet neighborhood that you can explore!
Be sure to load up some yummy hot drinks and cozy clothing! This free activity is a great way to spend an afternoon with your family.
How are you going to stay within budget this fall?
There are many ways to save money on activities during the fall season – you just have to be creative!
Use these fun and frugal activity ideas to grow your relationships with your family and friends, and to save money while you’re at it!