5 Frugal Fall Activities

Fall is a time of year when there’s a lot of pressure to go over your budget. Social media is full of aesthetic images of apple orchards, corn mazes, pumpkin spice lattes, and all things plaid and cozy. It’s easy to feel like you’re missing out if you don’t buy an expensive Halloween costume or a bunch of fall-scented bath products.

But luckily there are more frugal ways to celebrate autumn. Here are seven activities to help you get into the fall and Halloween spirit without breaking the bank.

5 Free or Cheap Fall Activities

Go Leaf Peeping in Popular Destinations Virtually

Many people take leaf-peeping trips to enjoy the gorgeous fall foliage in scenic places like Vermont and Maine. But luckily you don’t have to travel to view the changing leaves in popular autumnal destinations.

Dozens of fall cameras in cities like Stowe and Asheville allow you to go leaf peeping from the comfort of your couch. No traveling or gas money is required, and you can even stay in your comfy pajamas!

Cook and Bake With Clearance Halloween Pumpkins

Recently I read an article about how to put clearance Halloween pumpkins to good use. Believe it or not, some of the squashes and pumpkins that are sold as decorative and ornamental are edible.

The author says to stay away from small gourds, which are usually thin-skinned and bitter. But apparently, the carving pumpkins sold in the bulk bins can be used for cooking and baking. You can roast them, puree them for pie, turn them into soup, or bake some pumpkin bread or muffins.

When they’re on clearance, they’re surprisingly cheap. The author was able to take home 150 pounds of clearance pumpkins for just $24. They last a long time if stored properly, but I’m not planning to buy that much volume this year. I’m probably going to pick up a few pumpkins and see how it goes.

Harvest Crab Apples

Going to the apple orchard has become increasingly expensive. Some orchards charge an admission fee on top of the price of the apples. Then when you’re there, the temptation of apple cider and donuts is almost too much to resist! For a cheaper alternative, consider harvesting crab apples, which you can usually do for free.

Growing up my parents had a crab apple tree, but didn’t do anything with the apples. If you have a neighbor who lets their crab apples rot on the ground like my parents did, ask if you can harvest them instead. You can also find crab apple trees in the woods, in parks, and open fields, but make sure that you don’t pick anywhere you’re not supposed to.

Crab apples aren’t poisonous, but they can be a little tart, so it’s usually best to turn them into jam or use them in baked goods. You may need to add extra sugar to your recipes to compensate for the fact that they’re more sour than regular apples from the store.

Have a Bonfire

Another one of my favorite frugal fall activities is having a bonfire. I live on 10 acres in the woods, so I always have a pile of wood to burn. I love to listen to the crackling of the wood and watch the flames dance—it’s super meditative and relaxing!

I also enjoy roasting vegetarian hot dogs and marshmallows over the fire for a frugal dinner. If you have some musical talent, you can play and sing some songs, or just tell a spooky Halloween ghost story.

Go Birdwatching

Fall is a really exciting time to go birdwatching because lots of birds are migrating for the winter. BirdCast is a great website that can help you figure out which birds will be passing through your local area.

Here in Michigan, I usually see the most birds when I head to local wetlands areas. But I can also see a variety of birds right outside my living room window if I put out birdseed or suet. You can get a block of suet for around a dollar or a small bag of bird seed for $7 or $8, which is pretty affordable and provides hours of birdwatching fun.

The National Audubon Society also has live bird cameras you can watch at home. I’ve also seen people on TikTok do a live stream of their bird bath or feeder, so you don’t need to spend any money if you’re fine with watching birds virtually.

What are some of your favorite frugal fall activities? Share your recommendations in the comments!

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Vicky Monroe

Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.