What To Do In September

There is something in the air…do you feel it?

It’s that little nip that announces the coming of autumn. Pumpkin spice everything will soon be available everywhere as the days become colder.

Fall is a nice time to spend together as a family before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is upon us. Here are some fantastic fall activities that will bring your family together without breaking the bank!

1. Go to an Apple Orchard

Nothing says fall like apples and visiting an orchard seems like the quintessential fall activity. Local orchards will often open and allow people to pick their own apples.

What traditionally is a lot of work can be a great way to get exercise and have fun as a family. Anything is fun when you’re only doing it for a little while. Plus, you get a whole bunch of delicious apples, usually at a discount.

Often the orchards will have other activities like a pumpkin patch, hayrides, or fun family games that you can enjoy as well.

2. Bake an Apple Pie Together

What are you going to do with your buckets of apples? What better way than to make some apple desserts? There are so many delights you can make from this versatile fruit, apple pie being the most classic. Others include:

If you got enough apples at the orchard, you can enjoy baking up a whole bundle of delicious treats!

3. Arts and Crafts

Search fall arts and crafts on Pinterest and your feed will be flooded with gorgeous fall-themed ideas. From pumpkins made from colored string to kid-friendly crafts with leaves, there are so many great (and surprisingly easy) crafts to make.

Who knows? You might discover a new talent. You could even turn it into a little side hustle by selling your creations on Etsy or eBay.

4. Make Halloween Costumes

Halloween is coming at the end of next month and that makes September the perfect time to work on costumes with your kids.

These days most people are buying ready-made Halloween costumes, but it can be a lot of fun to make your own. You also don’t need to be handy with a sewing machine nor spend a lot of money.

Creativity is key!

The thrift store is a great place to get materials. There are lots of clothes and trinkets that you can use or repurpose to create an epic costume.

5. Jump in a Pile of Leaves

You’re going to have to rake up those leaves in your yard anyway, you might as well make a game of it. Your kids are more likely to get in on the fun if you do.

Rake all the leave together and then take turns jumping in the pile. You might be surprised at how much fun it is to discover your inner child!

Yes, you’ll probably have to re-rake the leaves a bit to gather them up again, but that’s okay. It’s great exercise anyway and it’s worth it for a bit of fun.

6. Marshmallow Roast

Soon it will be too cold for sitting around a campfire so take the chance to roast a few marshmallows now.

Don’t have a firepit?

Get creative! It’s totally possible to roast marshmallows over a grill, the kitchen stove, or in the oven. You can even use a candle with a little patience. Just make sure it’s an unscented candle, otherwise, your marshmallow will taste odd.

7. Fall Flowers

September is the perfect time for a little gardening. It’s still warm enough to enjoy being outdoors and it’s early enough in the season that autumn flowers will bloom brightly for many weeks.

Be sure to choose fall flowers like goldenrods, pansies, and chrysanthemums. You can also take the opportunity to plant your bulbs for next year.

8. Make Candles

Do you love the idea of filling your home with fall scents like cinnamon and pumpkin spice? Store-bought candles can get pricy and might not be exactly what you expect.

So why not make your own candles at home? Candle-making isn’t as hard as you might think and it’s a great activity that your kids can get in on.

The process is fun and money saving if you’re the type that burns through lots of candles in the fall.

9. Have a Picnic

Soon it will be too cold to while away the hours outdoors. Take advantage of the last vestiges of summer and take your kids to the park for a picnic.

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, simple sandwiches will do. The important part — the part your kids will remember — is that you took some time to spend together.

Plus, with all the fall colors setting the trees ablaze, it’s great to get outside and see it.

10. Go Hiking/Biking

Another way to get outdoors and enjoy the fall foliage is to strap on your boots and go for a hike. Research hiking trails in your area to find one that is the right difficulty for your family.

If you have small children, you might choose a paved trail so you can bring a stroller along. If you’re feeling particularly strong, you can even strap them to your back and get a more satisfying workout.

Alternatively, you can ride bikes instead. Small children can ride in a bicycle seat or in a little trailer you pull behind your bike.

Fall Family Fun

Anytime is a good time to spend time with your loved ones. The great news is there are plenty of fun activities you can do that don’t break the bank. All it takes is a bit of creativity.

We hope this list has inspired you to get out and try something new this fall. Let us know how it goes in the comments!

Learn About Saving Money with the CashFurther Community

Members receive exclusive access to helpful content-packed emails, a private Facebook group, online educational events, and more – all for FREE! Join today.

Ways to Save Money on Fall Clothes

Buying new clothes, though fun, gets expensive. What if we told you there was a way to save money on fall clothes?

There is! There are five ways to save money on fall clothes, in fact. And we’re going to share them with you here.

1. Clothing Swaps

Clothing swaps are a great place to get free (or very inexpensive) gently used clothing. Attendees clean out their closets and bring clothing they don’t want anymore to swap with other attendees.

Some communities host large clothing swaps where dozens or hundreds of people come together to make swaps. Check your local Facebook group or other places that post community information to find out if anyone is hosting one anytime soon.

Even if your community isn’t hosting one, you can always organize one with your friends.

2. Thrift Stores

Local thrift stores or consignment shops are both fantastic places to find gently-used clothing. Sometimes you can even snag brand-new clothing with the tags still on it!

If you visit a thrift store, be prepared to spend some time digging. Many thrift stores are only marginally organized and some just dump the clothes in a pile or a bin and let customers dig through.

The reward can be worth the effort, though. Regardless of what you find, it will generally cost far less than what you would pay anywhere else.

An extra bonus about both these ideas is that you are helping to save the planet. Over 11 million tons of textile waste goes to the landfill each year. The bulk of that waste is from discarded clothing — much of which is still perfectly usable.

3. Sales, Discounts, and Coupons

Buying or swapping used clothing isn’t the only way to refresh your closet cheaply. You can also get brand-new clothing at certain stores for about the same price or less than you might pay at the thrift store.

What is this sorcery!?

Don’t worry, there’s no magic involved. Just a few coupons, gift cards, and a bit of savvy savings knowledge.

Start with a little online research. Sometimes you can buy gift cards to clothing stores for less than the face value of the card. The savings might not be tremendous (maybe $5 off a $200 gift card) but it adds up.

Next, look for coupons in your local newspaper, online, or in magazines. Finally, plan your shopping trip to coincide with a big sale day.

You can also check out the clearance racks at your favorite low-priced clothing stores. We’re talking places like Target, Kohls, H&M, Forever 21, and the like. Plus, if you’ve got some coupons or discounted gift cards to add on top, you can save even more.

4. Shop Online

Not everyone enjoys shopping online as much as they do going to the store. After all, you can’t try items on or touch the fabric to see what it feels like through your computer screen. However, it can be a way to score some great deals on clothing.

Plus, services like Amazon Prime allow you to try before you buy. Shipping is free and you only pay for the items you decide to keep.

Another great option is eBay, just be sure you’re buying brands you recognize. Knock-off clothing shows up frequently online and what you get is not exactly what you expected from the cute picture.

If you get something that wasn’t what you expected, you can always list the item yourself and resell it. You can also use this technique with the clothes you buy at the thrift store. If you play your cards right, you might buy a shirt for $5 at the thrift store, use it for a few months, then sell it for $12 on eBay!

If that’s not savvy shopping, we don’t know what is!

5. Plan Your Purchases

Another way to save money on clothing is to carefully think about the pieces that you buy. Instead of buying whatever random clothing strikes your fancy, plan your outfits and purchase versatile clothing that can play a part in several outfits.

Going to the store with a plan in place can also help you limit impulse buys for clothes that you don’t really need.

Saving Money on Clothing

Sometimes it feels impossible to keep up with all the latest trends. Shopping for new clothes is always so much fun, but paying for them isn’t.

However, by carefully choosing where you buy your clothes, shopping the sales, and being willing to buy second-hand clothing, you can get some killer deals on new and new-to-you clothing!

Learn About Saving Money with the CashFurther Community

There are more ways to save money on fall clothes. Join the CashFurther Community to learn tips and tricks to save cash. Members receive exclusive access to helpful content-packed emails, a private Facebook group, online educational events, and more – all for FREE! Join today.