Fall Money Tips: 40+ Ways to Save Money in Fall

Last Updated on September 7, 2023 by Rebecca Lake

Looking for some fall money tips to save extra cash?

The fall season can bring a welcome change of pace from summer. The weather cools down, pumpkin spice everything is everywhere and there are so many fun fall events to enjoy.

Fall is also a great time to save some money which could come in handy when it’s time to start your holiday shopping.

If you’re looking for some ways to increase your savings, these fall money tips are exactly what you need.

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40+ Fall Money Tips for Maximum Savings

There are lots of ways to save money in the fall and the more creative you are, the more you could save! These fall money tips are designed to help you save the most money on home expenses, groceries, shopping and family fun!

1. Open the windows

Fall is a great opportunity to give your HVAC system a break and potentially save a little on your electric bill. Opening the windows can help to air out your home and let in a cool breeze, so you don’t have to run the AC as often.

2. Seal leaks around windows and doors

Air leaks around windows and doors can make your heat pump work harder in winter. All of that could significantly increase your energy costs.

Investing a few bucks in caulking or weather stripping can close up the cracks. This is another simple way to save on utilities in the fall and winter months.

3. Get your HVAC serviced

Fall is a good time to get your HVAC system cleaned and serviced, so it’s ready for the winter months.

It typically costs anywhere from $75 to $200 to have your HVAC serviced professionally. But that’s worth it in winter because the system doesn’t have to work overtime, so you can save money on energy bills.

If you can’t afford to pay to get your HVAC cleaned, you can still invest in some quality air filters.

Buying filters in bulk can save you money. And if you stock up in the fall, you’ll have them on hand to change them out through the winter.

4. DIY fall decor

Decorating for fall is a lot of fun, but it can be expensive. A simple fall money hack you can try to save is making your own fall decorations.

Look around the house (or the yard) to see what you have on hand that you can use to decorate. And if you have to spend money on craft supplies, check out Dollar Tree.

It’s a go-to spot for frugal shopping and they now offer free shipping to your local store!

5. Practice the 5 R’s

Adopting the 5 R’s can save you money in the fall (or any time of year). And you’ll feel better about lessening your environmental impact.

So what are the 5 R’s?

Reduce
Reuse
Repurpose
Recycle
Rot (which means composting)

This helps you to save money because you’re not buying things we don’t need anymore. And it helps cut down on waste because you throw way less stuff away.

6. Review your household budget

Fall is a great time to go over your budget and look for ways you can cut spending.

For example, you could give your fall money savings goals a boost by:

Shopping around for car insurance or homeowner’s insurance to find a better deal on premiums
Getting rid of cable and getting a Roku to stream instead
Signing up for Amazon Prime to get free shipping for holiday purchases
Canceling services you no longer need for the fall season (like paying for lawn care or pool care)
Reducing your cell phone plan or switching to a prepaid option
Reviewing your bank accounts to see how much you’re paying in fees and whether you might be able to cut those out

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7. Check open enrollment

If you or your spouse have insurance benefits at work, the fall open enrollment period could be an opportunity to save some money.

Go over your coverage and look at what you’re paying as a family for the premiums and co-pays. Then compare your options for changing your plan to see if you can make it any more affordable.

Shopping around for health insurance through an online marketplace can help you find the best rates. You can also shop around for life insurance if you’re looking for coverage in the fall.

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8. Declutter and sell your stuff for cash

Decluttering in the fall can help you to get ready for the holidays. And you might just have some things that you could sell for extra money.

Go room by room and see what you have on hand that you can reuse or repurpose for the season so you don’t have to buy anything new. Then, sell off your extra stuff that’s still in good shape.

Some of the best places to sell your stuff include:

Pawn shops (find a pawn shop near you)
Facebook Marketplace
Local Facebook bargain groups
Craigslist
Decluttr app

Bonus tip: Donate what can’t be sold to charity and make sure you get a receipt. You can claim the donation as a deduction when you file your taxes to save money in the spring.

9. Make yard work a family affair

When there are leaves everywhere, it’s tempting to hire someone else to rake them up. But if you want to save some fall money, you’re better off tackling it yourself.

If your request is greeted with groans from the kids, try making it a family fun day.

Block off one Saturday when everyone goes out to rake up leaves and bag them up. (And of course, spend a little time jumping in the piles. )

10. Make your own cleaning products

Cleaning supplies can get pricey, not to mention a lot of them are packed with chemicals. You can save money this fall by making your own cleaning supplies at home.

The best part is that you probably already have the ingredients you need. Vinegar, baking soda, and some essential oils can get you started and you can check out some natural cleaning recipes for other ideas.

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11. Line-dry your laundry

Running the dryer can get your clothes dry fast but it can run up your power bill, too.

Fall is the perfect time to line-dry clothes and let them soak up the sun. You’ll end up with fresh-smelling clothes (and a smaller electric bill).

If you don’t have space for a clothesline in the backyard, you can use a small drying rack instead.

12. Reverse your ceiling fans

Ceiling fans help to distribute cool or warm air throughout your home. Once fall rolls around, you’ll want to make sure your fan is pushing warm air down into the room versus drawing it up.

That can help keep your home warmer as the nights get cooler and take less of a toll on your heating system. It’s a simple and frugal fall money tip!

pumpkins and leaves — Fall Money Tips to Save

13. Meal plan and prep

One of my favorite fall money tips is meal planning around seasonal produce.

Fall is a great time to try some new recipes using squash, sweet potatoes, apples, and of course, pumpkin. You can make plenty of delicious dirt-cheap dinners using whole food ingredients.

Basing meal plans around in-season foods that are on sale is a super simple trick to save on groceries. You can check out the weekly sale ads to find the best deals on fall seasonal foods.

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14. Shop the farmer’s market

Farmer’s markets can offer a smorgasbord of choices when it comes to local produce in the fall. And you might pay less for fruits and veggies than you would at the supermarket.

Most farmer’s markets close in mid to late fall so you’ll want to visit yours sooner, rather than later. And here’s another great fall money trick for saving: Ask for discounts on “ugly” fruits and veggies.

Produce that has a few bumps and bruises might not be much to look at. But they can taste just as good as their prettier counterparts and cost you less money.

15. Break out the crockpot

Fall and winter are when our crockpot sees the most action. A tasty way to save money this fall is to take all those seasonal foods you’ve bought and whip up some crockpot meals.

This is a huge time-saver and a money-saver since you can batch cook and make enough to last for the whole week.

16. Buy in bulk and start canning

Another way to make use of seasonal foods in fall is to can them. Now, I’ve done canning before, and here is my best tip: read the directions.

My first attempt at making jelly resulted in some super sugary berry syrup instead because I didn’t read the directions carefully.

You might have to spend a few bucks upfront for jars and lids. But you can save money all fall and winter by eating your own fresh canned foods instead of buying them from the store.

17. Try meatless meals

Eating less meat is a simple way to save money this fall and with so many great veggie and fruit-based recipes to try, why not?

You don’t have to go totally vegetarian. Having meatless Mondays once a week is enough to start saving some money. (And it’s good for the environment, too!)

18. Start an indoor herb garden

If you like cooking with fresh herbs, another neat fall money tip is to grow your own. You don’t need a lot of space to start a kitchen herb garden or a lot of money to get started either.

Check out this guide for starting an indoor herb garden from Kitchen Confidante. Or browse these inexpensive herb garden kits from Amazon.

19. Make fall get-togethers potluck

Fall is great for spending more time with friends and family. But it can take a toll on your food budget if you’re spending more on ingredients to prepare dishes.

If you’re planning any family get-togethers, for the fall months here’s an easy savings tip: Ask guests to contribute something to the menu.

You get two benefits: a variety of dishes and you don’t have to blow your budget paying for all the food.

20. Shop for groceries online

Ordering groceries online can save time in the kitchen. And it can help you to trim your grocery bill if you’re only buying the things you need.

You can check out the online ordering options from Walmart. Or you can use an app like Instacart to shop and save $10 off your first order.

21. Take advantage of kids eat free nights

When you’re getting back into a fall routine, putting a homemade meal on the dinner every night can be more challenging.

You might be picking multiple kids up from school, driving them to sports practices or games, or helping with homework. And sometimes, that can mean getting dinner out instead.

Taking advantage of kids eat free nights is a simple way to save money when your fall schedule gets hectic. Here’s a great list of 100+ restaurants that offer kids eat free promotions to help you save big.

22. Make fall drinks at home

If you just have to have your spiced pumpkin latte or white hot chocolate fix, why not learn to make it at home?

There are tons of recipes for warm fall drinks you can try and they won’t cost you $8+ each time you take a sip.

fall pumpkins and blankets — Fall Money Hacks for Families

23. Stock up on end-of-season clearance

Here’s a sneaky fall money tip: Wait to shop.

Early fall is a good time to grab summer items at a steep discount. You can also score deals on school supplies in mid to late September.

November is when you can look for fall savings on decor and Halloween items. In years past, I’ve saved a ton on everything from Halloween costumes for my son (who likes to cosplay) to fall decor to candles.

And the more money you save in the fall, the more cash you’ll have for holiday shopping when the time comes!

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Cashback apps are a life-saver any time of year but they’re especially great in the fall. You can use these apps to save on everything from shopping to groceries to travel and earn money back on what you spend.

My favorite app for saving and earning cashback is Rakuten. With Rakuten, you can earn up to 40% cashback when you shop online or in-store at partner retailers.

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25. Find coupon codes with Honey

Honey is a browser extension that finds deals and savings for you, and then applies them automatically.

The Honey app is great for getting the best deals on everything you buy online, including Amazon. You can create a watchlist and if something on your list drops in price, Honey will let you know!

26. Shop thrift stores for fall clothing

Consignment stores and thrift stores were a life-saver for me when I first became a single mom. I had a very tight budget and I couldn’t afford to hit the mall or shop online for new clothes every time my kids outgrew theirs.

If you don’t normally frequent the consignment or thrift store circuit, consider giving it a try. You might be surprised at how you can save money this fall by buying gently used clothes.

And if your kids have outgrown some of their clothes, you could sell them to make extra cash.

27. DIY Halloween costumes

While you’re browsing the thrift stores for fall clothes, look for finds you can use to make Halloween costumes.

This is one of my favorite frugal fall money tips!

We stopped buying Halloween costumes a few years ago and started making them instead. It saved us money and it’s fun working together to make a completely unique costume!

28. Shop yard and estate sales

Spring and summer are usually peak yard sale seasons but you usually find sales in fall as long as the weather holds out.

If you’re going to try yard or estate sales to save money, make sure you know what you’re looking for first. If you go just to look for deals, you might end up spending money on things you don’t really need.

And that’s not what you want if you’re aiming for a frugal fall.

29. Try a no-spend weekend

A no-spend challenge can be helpful for getting your budget back on track. If the fall season has got you spending more than usual, try a short-term spending diet.

Put the brakes on spending for a weekend. If you can go for a week or longer, that’s even better for saving.

And you can check out these other fall money challenges as well.

Head here to download some free printable money-saving charts to keep track of your progress!

30. Plan your holiday budget early

Making your holiday spending budget as early as possible gives you plenty of time to plan and save. So if you haven’t added this to your fall money to-do list yet, it’s time to get on it!

Look at what you spent last year, then list out what you think you’ll spend money on for the holidays this year.

Then, set up a separate savings account to hold that money until you need it.

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31. Check your email settings

If you’ve signed up for all your favorite stores’ email lists, then fall is when your inbox starts getting bombarded with special flash sale announcements, promo codes, and discounts.

That could be a good thing if you want to save money this fall. But it could be a bad thing if you’re spending money just to snag those deals.

So check your email settings and decide whether you want to get those emails or not. And if you don’t want to be tempted, go ahead and unsubscribe from them now.

32. Use a price protection app to shop

You know what stinks? Buying something, then seeing it advertised for a lower price somewhere else.

Luckily, there’s an app you can use to save money in fall (or any time). Paribus helps you get refunds for things you buy online if you find them cheaper elsewhere.

33. Be choosy about using credit cards to spend

Credit cards can help you save money if you’re earning cashback on purchases. But they can land you in debt if you don’t have a plan for paying it off.

If you need a recommendation for a credit card, check out Credit Sesame.

This is the site I use to monitor my credit for free and they also offer personalized suggestions for credit cards based on your credit profile.

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34. Get free shipping for holiday purchases

If you’re already starting your holiday shopping in the fall, you can easily save money by taking advantage of free shipping promotions.

Just don’t get lured into the minimum spending requirement trap. This is where you have to spend a set amount to qualify for free shipping.

One workaround is to have the item shipped to the store and then pick it up instead. This is free and you can stick to spending only what you budgeted.

fall savings hacks for families — Save Money in the Fall

35. DIY fall crafts and cards

Doing crafts with kids is a fun fall activity and it’s something you can do while spending little to no money. And if you do need to buy supplies, there’s always Dollar Tree.

Some of my favorite things to do with my kids when they were younger included apple stamping and leaf rubbings. These posts have even more great ideas for free (or cheap) fall crafts for kids:

36. Look for free fall events

Fall is when there are lots of family-friendly activities going on, many of which are free or cost very little money. For example, that might include:

Movies in the park
Fall harvest festivals
Pumpkin patches
Free farm tour days
Halloween festivals
Fall craft markets
Hayrides
Corn mazes

Check out what’s happening in your area to see what kind of frugal fun you can have as a family.

37. Go apple or pumpkin picking

Sadly, we don’t live anywhere near an apple orchard.

But if you do, taking the kids out for the day to pick apples is cheap fun (plus, you can stock up on apples for all that canning you plan to do!)

38. Volunteer

Fall and the build-up to the holidays is the perfect time for volunteering as a family. And it doesn’t cost you anything but your time.

Some of the things you could to have fun (and save money in fall) while helping others include:

Raking an elderly neighbor’s leaves
Baking some pumpkin muffins and dropping them off at your local police station
Going through your kids’ books and donating ones you don’t read to your local library’s children’s room
Dropping off toys that are still in good condition at a daycare

This is a fall money tip you might try if you want to do more acts of kindness as a family.

39. Take a nature walk

There’s so much happening in nature during the fall season.

Leaves are turning, the squirrels and birds are getting ready for colder weather. Taking a hike or nature walk together is perfect for making fall memories with kids without spending money.

Bonus points if you put together a nature journal together. Kids can use crayons, colored pencils and markers to draw the things they see on your walks.

40. Look for deals on fall family travel

In fall seasons past, we celebrated my daughter’s birthday by taking a family trip. Usually to someplace expensive, like a theme park or water park.

One way I saved money in fall on travel was booking passes at a discount whenever possible and shopping for deals on hotel rooms.

If a fall getaway with kids is in the works, check out deal sites like Hotels.com or Expedia to find savings. And if you can’t afford to go somewhere (or travel is a no-go because of health concerns) try a fall staycation at home instead!

41. Go backyard camping

If you and your kids are into sleeping under the stars, a backyard campout is a fun, money-saving fall activity you can plan.

You can roast marshmallows, tell spooky stories, count the stars–all without having to spend money.

42. Streamline your schedule

Kids’ activities can be a budget-killer in the fall.

Your kids might be doing things with their church, working on school projects or signing up for the new sports season. And then there’s music lessons and art lessons, which can all cost money.

It can get overwhelming time-wise and money-wise. So if you’re trying to save money this fall with kids, take a second look at your schedule.

If doing all the things is leaving you exhausted and broke, think about cutting one or two things out. Your wallet (and your sanity) will thank you.

(Check out this list of 50 fun fall activities for more fall bucket list ideas!)

Final Thoughts

Fall is the perfect time to slow down and enjoy the change of seasons. And it’s also a great time of year to reap some extra savings ahead of the holidays. These fall money tips can help you simplify spending and save time as autumn gets underway.

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