Frugal Fall Fun!

Wow, that title had way too many F’s in it. If my middle were here reading this, he’d point out to me right away that what I just used was alliteration. He’s my walking Wikipedia, and is constantly telling me what he learned throughout the day.

Back to the topic at hand… family fall activities. Let me preface this by saying, I’m not one who likes to go out because I’m an introvert. I was in numerous school activities, but I was never a social butterfly. All throughout high school and college, and it’s not gotten better. It’s not only physically draining, but it’s mentally exhausting. But I also get cabin fever really easy, especially because we live so far out of town and, depending on the time of year, won’t go to town for nearly two weeks!

My kids are a mix. One is an introvert just like me. One is a HUGE social butterfly and wants to be in on every social gathering. And the third couldn’t care either way. Because there’s such a huge range of personalities in our house, I like my social butterfly to learn that it’s okay to stay home from time to time, and that my introvert needs to occasionally step outside of their comfort zone.

But since we’re in the middle of paying off debt, I lean towards activities that aren’t going to break the bank either.

Here are some activities we love to do in the fall weather that won’t break the bank.

Hiking

One of our favorite family activities is to get outdoors. Hiking is an excellent way to see nature’s beauty, but also to get fresh air, exercise, and to not spend a lot of money. I really enjoy hiking in the fall because it gives me an opportunity to see all the different colors fall has to offer.

Corn Mazes & Hayrides

There are a few farms local to me that offer corn mazes. Some farms use corn that grows over 6ft tall, while others prefer to use sorghum grass so younger kids can participate in the maze without getting easily lost. Locally, cost starts at $2 per person, it’s a nice way to spend $10 for our family to have some fall fun.

As for hayrides, we have local farms that offer them, as well as some local fire departments. Not only do we get to have some family fun, we also support our local economy.

Take In the Sunset {or Sunrise}

This picture of the sunset was taken at a lake near our house, and as we drive home from soccer practices, we take some time to thoroughly enjoy the sunset at this lake. But we equally enjoy sunrises. In the early morning, the orange and pink hues of the sunrise seem to amplify the reds, yellows and oranges of the leaves. No matter how many pictures I get, they never seem to do the gorgeous colors any justice.

Gardening

Fall to me brings the end of the major growing season, but there is still so much you can do. From planting mums and fall veggies, to planting crops that can overwinter. If none of that seems like your style, your garden would benefit from some prepping for the winter ahead.

Pumpkin Patch

Visiting the pumpkin patch is something my kids loved to do when they were younger. There’s something special about watching them hop back and forth through a field filled with pumpkins, trying to find that perfect one. While a trip to the patch is free, pumpkins in my area cost $3-$5 each.

Apple Picking

Apple picking is an activity that we’ve never done as a family, but it’s one on our list. We have local orchards that we can go pick bushels of apples at for a discounted price than picking up an bushel of already picked apples. Not only do you get the opportunity to spend time outdoors, you are supporting a local farmer too.

If you’re looking for even more family fun, get your kids involved in making some homemade applesauce! My clan cannot get enough of it!

Fall Crafts

This time of year, my kids love hunting for acorns and pinecones, and coming up with different things to do with them. No matter what crafts you decide, homemade crafts are also a wonderful way to decorate your house embrace the new season.

Local Fall Festivals & Parades

One of the towns local to us always holds festivals with each harvest season. In the fall, they’ve got an apple festival in September, and a pumpkin festival in October. Each festival usually features local vendors, entertainment and food. Not only is it a good way to get out and experience the season, but it’s also a good way to support your local community.

Local Parks

If you can’t get out to take in the fall weather and colors, you can always head to local parks. The kids enjoy getting their last few visits to the playground in before the winter, and the leaves can be stunning.

Baking

With pumpkins and apples abundant, it’s the perfect time to get your family in the kitchen and bake. My kids love it when I get them involved, and the extra time it takes to bake, as well as the extra mess, is well worth the memories.

Indoor Movie/Video Game Night

While I do enjoy it when my kids aren’t staring at a screen like zombies, there are occasions when we just need to decompress. This soccer season has left our Friday nights wide open, and we use it as our movie night. I enjoy it because we have games early in the morning on Saturday’s, so we take our Friday’s to rotate who picks a movie, eat some finger friendly dinner, and relax before we have to be up and at ’em again for Saturday soccer games. The kids love it because it gives them an opportunity to eat in front of the TV.

Bonfires

Bonfires, along with hiking is one of my personal favorites. Not only do I get to spend time outdoors and with my family, but with bonfires I can do it from the comfort of my own yard. That ranks up pretty high in my book!