Bored in October? You don’t have to be! Just because the days are getting cooler doesn’t mean you can’t still have loads of fun.
Of course, with the holidays just around the corner, many people tighten up on the money front. They know that Black Friday is coming, then holiday gifts and spending a lot of money in October isn’t always wise.
The good news is that you can have your cake and eat it too. Check out these 10 budget activities that are perfect to do in October!
1. Decorate for Fall
Get in the spirit for Halloween and decorate your house near the beginning of October. With all the fallen leaves, cheap pumpkins, apples, and other items on hand, it’s easy to make your own decorations quite cheaply.
Stuff some old clothes with newspaper or straw to set a scarecrow on your porch. Paint his face on a pumpkin head or stuffed burlap sack.
Place a pumpkin spice candle in a bowl and surround it with colored sand for an inexpensive, yet elegant centerpiece. Create a garland with colorful fallen leaves to frame windows and doors.
The list of ideas goes on and on. Plus, there are plenty of fall crafts you can do with your kids!
2. Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice Latte
For many people fall wouldn’t be fall without a generous serving of pumpkin spice latte — multiple times. Unfortunately, supporting a fancy coffee habit gets expensive quickly.
This idea gives you something fun to do on a cold afternoon as well as helps you save money. Once you learn how to make your own pumpkin spice latte, you won’t have to stop by the coffee stand once or twice — or thrice — every day.
Here’s a delightful recipe to get you started!
3. Road Trip!
In many areas of the US, October is a delightful time to take a road trip. The hills are on fire as the trees burst into brilliant shades of red, yellow, and orange.
Not sure where there is a pretty drive in your area? There are online tools you can use to help find a route.
If there is a quaint town with a historic district nearby, you can turn it into a day trip. Wander along the streets and get lost in a simpler time. Keep an eye out for photo ops! You’ll find one around every corner in a charming spot in small-town America.
4. Go For a Hike/Bike Ride
Summer gets all the attention when it comes to activities like hiking and biking, but the reality is that October is the perfect time for them. The weather is cool enough that you won’t get overheated as you work up a sweat, but not so cold that it is uncomfortable to breathe.
As a bonus, it’s also another great way to enjoy the fall foliage. Hikes typically take you to a high point where you will have a breath-taking reward for all your hard work on the trail. Many also have scenic spots along the way to tease the appetite.
If good hiking hills are scarce in your area or you have small children, go for a bike ride instead. Strap a seat on the back of your bike or use one of those little trailers to haul your kids plus snacks.
Don’t have the equipment and don’t want to spend the money on it? Ask around amongst your friends. Chances are, somebody has a bicycle they’d be willing to lend you.
5. Host a Potluck Party
Potlucks are such a fabulous way to get together with your favorite people without dumping too much work on your shoulders (or spending too much money). Invite a few of your friends and have everybody bring their favorite fall dish.
You’ll have plenty of food to go around without all the work and expense that tends to come with parties.
To add some extra intrigue, make it a themed party. You could choose a certain type of food, perhaps ethnic dishes like French or Indian. Or you could choose a party theme like fall or Halloween. Add a prize for the best dish or costume to inspire a little friendly competition.
6. Try Some Pumpkin Recipes
Did you know that you can use pumpkin in almost everything when it comes to baking and cooking? Pumpkin can go in cakes, cookies, donuts, pies, soups, hummus, cheesecake, and so much more!
Pumpkins are cheap and readily available anywhere at this time of year. Don’t be intimidated by them, it’s actually really easy to cook with pumpkin. Furthermore, pumpkin is really good for you (as long as you don’t add buckets of sugar to the dish).
Plus, you have to eat anyway, so why not make a fun activity out of it? Have a baking day with your kids and prepare all sorts of warm pumpkin spice dishes and desserts. Freeze what you won’t eat right away for quick snacks and meals. You’ll be thanking yourself for a few easy dinners during the busy holiday season!
7. Scary Movie-Thon
Now that you have all these pumpkin sweets on hand, gear up for Halloween with a scary movie night. There are tons of classic family movies like Ghostbusters or Halloweentown that are fun to rewatch with your kids.
Adults might like something a bit more thrilling and there are plenty of movies to choose from in that department. Pro tip: scary movies make great date movies — your date won’t let go of your hand the whole evening!
8. Scary Book-a-Thon
Are you a reader? Rainy October evenings are the perfect time to curl up with a good book and enjoy a night in. Make yourself a pumpkin spice latte and grab one of the pumpkin treats you made and settle in for some well-deserved me-time.
To get in the spirit of the season, choose a thriller or scary book (think Stephen King’s classics).
9. Park Picnic
October days offer some of the last chances most of us will have to enjoy a meal outdoors until spring. Once November rolls in, the temperatures are officially too low to have an enjoyable picnic.
Grab your sweetie and pick a sunny spot at your local park to lay out a picnic blanket and have a delightful meal. Bring a frisbee or ball to play with your kids or furry friends. Summer days are fading away and you’ve got to savor it to the last possible moment.
10. Marshmallow Roast
If you’ve got a fire pit out back, this is the perfect way to spend a fall evening outdoors. Grab some marshmallows, your favorite chocolate bar, and some graham crackers. Then, challenge your family to who can roast the perfect marshmallow.
Don’t have a firepit? Not a problem, get creative and roast marshmallows over the stove or find out what happens when you put a marshmallow in the microwave! (Just have some warm soapy water on hand to get it cleaned up quickly).
Having Fun does not mean Spending Tons of Money
There are plenty of ways that you can have fun in October without spending a ton of money. Some of the ideas we’ve presented on this list are even money-saving when you do it right!
So enjoy this month, enjoy life, and let us know what other ideas you come up with in the comments!
