My Favorite Fall Frugal Activities

[highlight]A few of my favorite fall frugal activities that include fun, budget-friendly ways to spend time with family and friends during the holiday season without breaking the bank. [/highlight]

Since becoming a one-income family, we learned quickly that as the holidays approach, setting a budget for entertainment is really important. The fall season usually brings on a lot of holiday meals, celebrations and gift giving. All which can add up to extra expenses if you aren’t careful.

Celebrating the changing season and holidays doesn’t mean that you have to break the bank. Below are some of my favorite fall frugal activities…

Family Game Night

As the weather changes in the fall and it gets too cold to spend a lot of time outdoors, family game night is a fun, festive way to spend quality time together without spending a ton of money.

• Pick a game that the whole family can play
• Cards are a fun way to create an ongoing game that can become a weekly tradition
• Light a fire and throw a blanket on the ground to create a festive atmosphere
• Popcorn and hot chocolate are fun snacks to enhance your game night without costing a lot of money

Holiday Movie-A-Thon

There is something about holiday themed movies that puts people in a festive and jolly mood. Instead of exchanging gifts or spending money on dinner out with your close friends, consider hosting a holiday movie-a-thon.

• Invite a few girlfriends over to celebrate the holidays together in place of exchanging gifts
• Ask everyone to bring over an appetizer or snack to share and a bottle of wine
• This Garlic Rosemary Parmesan Popcorn Recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod sounds delish!
• Rent a couple holiday themed movies. The cheesier the better in my opinion!
• Grab some cozy blankets, put on some comfy clothes and just overload on holiday cheer with your closest friends

Mini Pie Baking Party

Mini Pies in Cupcake Tin via Teaspoon.com

Fall parties and holiday get-togethers usually involve pies. Consider hosting a pie baking party with close friends/family members. Not only is an inexpensive way to spend time together, but it also is a great way to get your holiday baking done without having to purchase all the ingredients on your own!

• Mini pies like the ones in this recipe are a great way to make a variety of pies all at once
• Assign each friend attending a different filling to bring for the group to share and ask them to bring their own cupcake pan
• Supply the pie crusts and have mimosas on hand for a fun filled pie making afternoon
• The mini pies freeze well so you can have all your holiday pies made in advance, saving you time and money in the future
• They also make great gifts for neighbors and co-workers, saving you money during the holiday season

Fall is such a festive time that it’s hard not to get caught up in all the celebrations and costly events. Finding fun, frugal ways to celebrate help you stay on track with your expenses. The great team at Personal Capital also have a lot of great, free resources on their website to help you track expenses, manage investments, and create a budget to help you stay on track with your personal finances.

What is your favorite way to save money while still having fun this fall season?

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for this post. All thoughts expressed are solely my own personal opinions.