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Well, school is back in session. 

The other day, I noticed that a heavy wind had left my lawn speckled with leaves (even though it’s only August!).

And I know for a fact that I have friends who have started their pumpkin spice latte habit (and their Halloween decorations are sitting in a tub in the corner of the dining room waiting for midnight to strike on September 1st).

Even a summer lover like me has to face it.  Fall will be here before we know it!  

So today, let’s talk about some budget friendly ways to get your home ready for fall.

How To Get Your Family Ready For Fall On A Dime

Back to School

A lot of kids are back at school now.  (Whatever that looks like in 2020.) 

We like to hike in a park or take one last dip in the pool to say good bye to my favorite season.

Back at home, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got your family ready for a long school year.  It’s important to stay organized to keep on top of the school schedules. 

Take a look at any available school calendars and sync them with your own family calendar.

(Here’s my favorite (free!) calendar to keep everyone organized.  It makes life a million times easier.)

I help my kids get ready in the mornings with a simple checklist.  They know that in order to be ready to go, they need to:

• Be dressed down to shoes
• Eat breakfast
• Pack their lunch
• Wash face/brush teeth/put on deodorant
• Collect items for school (backpack, lunch box, homework, books, projects, instruments)

Here’s one you can print for your own home.  (Just click the picture to download and print!)

Do you have an area of the home dedicated to homework? 

Maybe it’s a simple caddy with supplies like pencils and glue sticks that kids can carry around to do work anywhere. 

Or maybe you have a Pinterest worthy desk station complete with a globe and dictionaries.

Either way, try to give your young students a calming place to complete assignments.

(By the way, if you love freebies that make your life easier, be sure to sign up for this one, too!)

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Prepping Your Home

You’ll want to take a little time to get your home ready for fall (and the coming winter).

Here’s a fall checklist that will help you save money on those jobs!

Fall Sports 

Many families participate in fall sports such as soccer, football, cross country, and more.  

There are many benefits to participating in sports.  But sports also come with a group of challenges for families. 

Be sure to check out my post on ways to Save Your Money and Sanity This Sports Season.  There you’ll find tips to make playing affordable and keeping your sports season simple.

Fall Crockpot Meals

When the weather starts to turn, many people crave hearty meals.  The crock pot is perfect for creating a juicy meal or soup that warms your soul.

Our family recipe for potato soup is a must try this fall.

A family favorite that is also extremely frugal is Crock Pot Ham & Beans.  This recipe uses dried beans, but is simple enough for a beginner.  (Plus it’s delicious!)

Another simple but delicious crockpot favorite is Dump and Run Taco Soup.  Not only does it serve the family, but it’s also well received at parties and potlucks. 

It’s ok to let people think you slaved over the recipe…but the truth is that it takes only 10 minutes to throw together!

I’m a confessed lover of Dr. Pepper, so I really enjoy using it in slow cooker recipes. 

It’s great on pulled pork or in a pot roast with potatoes and carrots (just add a packet of onion soup, pour your favorite cola drink on, and cook on low for 6-8 hours).

Decorating the Home

Giving your home a festive fall feeling doesn’t have to break the bank.  Grab some pumpkins from a pumpkin patch or your favorite grocery store to give your home an instant taste of autumn.  

Collect pumpkins in different colors, shapes, and sizes for variety. 

You can even pick up some cheap plastic pumpkins and give them ]a new look. Use paints (even a can of spray paint!) to get the look you want.

Stretch those pumpkins from Labor Day to Halloween.  

As October approaches, you can add some “spooky” to your fall decor.  

• Paint a jack-o-lantern face on one side of the pumpkins.  
• A few plastic spiders crawling across the pumpkins gives them a different look.  
• Use gauze or pillow stuffing to create a spider web look.

When Halloween passes, turn those pumpkins back around and remove the extra scary objects.  Now you have a pretty fall look that will last you through Thanksgiving!

These budget friendly homemaking tips for fall will get you in the mood for cooler weather without breaking the bank.

You’ll also want to check out this fun list of no fail DIY Halloween decorations (many of them are free!).

How do you get ready for fall?