
10 Memorable budget friendly fall activities
HERE IS A LIST OF MY BUDGET FRIENDLY FALL ACTIVITIES
I created a list of 10 budget friendly fall activities to help you save money. Most of these activities that I found are free or really cheap to do. You can use some of these ideas to go on a date with your child or grandchild.
Do you love fall as much as I do? Having the fall breeze blow across my face and smelling campfires excites me! Does your family enjoy doing outside activities during the fall? I know mine does so that is why I created a list of cost-effective fall activities for you and your family to enjoy.
All it takes is some creativity on your part. Take a look at what I put together for you and your family! Enjoy!

OUTSIDE MOVIE NIGHT IS ONE OF MY COST-EFFECTIVE FALL ACTIVITIES
We all love watching movies. Try taking the movies outside to create new memories for the kids to enjoy. How about creating a comfy surrounding outside by placing big blankets and pillows on the ground. You might need some lounge chairs for the adults.
Place the television on a table outside. If you have a projector, you can put up a white sheet outside and project the movie on it. Wait until it is really dark outside so you can see the movie clearly.
MAKE SURE YOU PURCHASE THE SNACKS
Next, purchase boxed movie candy from the Dollar Store. Then, pop some popcorn to give your kids the ultimate movie theater feeling and smell.
You will have the experience of a theater without the expense. My kids love doing this with their friends. Their friends talked about this for a long time and they are always asking when can we do it again.
Let your kids or grandkids have input on what movie they want to watch so it can include the whole family. I really enjoyed doing this activity with them too!
COOKING OR BAKING TOGETHER IS ANOTHER ONE OF MY BUDGET FRIENDLY FALL ACTIVITIES
You need to create memories with your kids or grandkids by cooking or baking with them. Have them watch you make the grocery list by pulling out the recipes and writing them down.
Then, have them walk with you around the kitchen to mark off items that you already have. This way they will see that you don’t always have to purchase every ingredient if you already have those ingredients.
Go to the grocery store together to show them how to get the items and how much they cost. Use a calculator to show them that things cost even when you do stay at home activities.
You could even take it a step further and give them money to purchase the items themselves. I would give them a little more money than what things cost and tell them that if they have any money left over then they can use it how they like. (No more than $2.00 over).
Once you get home with the items, pull out the recipe and start baking. Try using some family recipes to pass down to your kids. Those can be a family legacy! This is definitely one of my budget friendly fall activities.


GOING TO THE ZOO IS MY FAVORITE OUT OF ALL OF THE BUDGET FRIENDLY FALL ACTIVITIES
What kid doesn’t like the zoo? I know your thinking, “How can this be a cheap outing?” Well, what would you say if I told you that it can be a free vacation?
All you have to do is go to your local library and rent a Zoo DVD. Check it out, take it home, watch it and then return it. Once you return it they will give you 2 adult and 2 children zoo tickets.
One downfall is that so many people check it out that it might not be available when you need it. The tickets do have an expiration date of 14 days after you receive them.
Make sure that you don’t rent the DVD until the last minute because you only have 2 weeks until they expire. See if you can reserve the DVD on a certain date.
If your kids or grandkids love animals then this is the perfect outing for your family. You might have to rent a hotel room or travel in one day if you don’t live far from a zoo.
ATTENDING FREE CHURCH EVENTS IS ALWAYS FUN
Go to church fall event. A lot of churches have fall festivals. Also, if you live near a major college, the college students may have trick-or-treating events.
Some places do trunk-or-treat. This is where they decorate their trunks and give out candy. The concept is instead of going house to house, they go trunk to trunk.


FIRST FRIDAY IS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
See if your city has First Friday. A lot of times they will have events for kids there. Check out your local Facebook for your town and see what they provide.
Our town has Scare on the Square and Deck the Halls for Christmas. They provide Chili cook offs and other vendors are there. We fill our belly up with chili and then we vote on which chili is the best. A free meal is chalked up to a win-win for me!
Other activities they provide are jumps and rides for the kids. They have costume competitions and trick-or-treating is provided by local companies. Older kids get to go through the haunted house. First Friday is a big deal around here.
This is one of my kids favorite budget friendly fall activities.
HAVE A HALLOWEEN PARTY
Have a Halloween party at your house. Make sure the parents stay and bring a snack. My friend Claudia used to have pumpkin carving competitions.
She had each child bring their own pumpkin and carving utensils. The parents and children worked together to carve out their pumpkins. Parents drew the face while their kids would carve on top of the drawing.
They turned out really cute. Claudia had small prizes for each winner. She voted for the scariest, funniest, happiest, silliest, most fat, most skinny, tallest, shortest, etc…
We would all eat then the kids would run around and have fun! Come up with your own version of a Halloween party. You could have Halloween games for the kids (Bob for apples). See who can bring the most creative dessert and judge that too! Have fun with it.


LOCAL FARMS IS ANOTHER ONE OF MY FUN BUDGET FRIENDLY FALL ACTIVITIES
Find a local farm that has fall activities for families. Many have a corn maze, hay rides, cornbox (like a sandbox), a playgound and a jump house. Our kids love going to ours!
They usually don’t cost that much and only have these activities around Halloween. Ours gives us a small pumpkin per person to take home.
ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS IS A CLASSIC WAY OF CONTINUING THE BUDGET FRIENDLY FALL ACTIVITIES
We have a homemade firepit in our backyard. A tree fell and left a big hole. My husband burned the stump where the tree was and it created a man made firepit.
You can purchase an above ground pit or create your own with stones. Look on Pinterest to see how to make one. We roast marshmallows at night and sit around the fire to relax. Try roasting pecans around the fire and eating them.
These are such good memories with our kids. We talk about the day without getting interrupted.


GO ON A PICNIC TO KEEP UP THE FAMILY TRADITION
Our family tradition is to go on a picnic. We have them at parks and in our backyard. Have the kids help make your food or grab a bite on the way.
Either way is fine because it’s about the company you keep not the food that make the memories. We go on nature walks or on the playground. Your kids or grandkids just want to spend time with you.
SUPPORT LOCAL PLAYS
Attend local plays at schools and performance art places. We like to support local activities.
Most plays don’t cost much and are age appropriate. Call your performance art center, college art center and high schools to see what performance is coming up.
Some plays are geared more for adults while others are for kids. I enjoy the kid plays just as much. Give it a try.

PICK YOUR FAVORITE BUDGET FRIENDLY FALL ACTIVITIES
Which activity sounds like one of your favorite out of the budget friendly fall activities? Mine is outside movie night and going to the zoo.