Autumn is actually good for the economy. Well, at least in some parts of the country. “Leaf peeping,” the term for fall leaf tourism, results in a $3 billion dollar business in New England, where millions of out-of-state visitors flock to take in the changing colors. While the leaves may be falling and you may not be able to benefit from leaf peeping, your bank account can still benefit from the change in season. Autumn is a beautiful time of year that is filled with a lot of festive activities and positive change. To ensure you can take advantage of all that fall has to offer, take advantage of some money-saving hacks in order to stretch your dollars throughout the season. Keep reading for some money saving tips for Autumn.
Host a Clothing Swap for Warmer Clothes
Instead of going out and buying all new clothes to get you through the colder weather, you can plan and organize a clothing swap. You likely have a lot of summer and winter clothes you’d like to get rid of, as do your neighbors and friends. A clothing swap is a great way to save money while also recycling clothes and receiving new, gently-used items that can refresh your wardrobe. This is an especially great idea if you have growing children that have grown out of old sizes you definitely won’t need anymore. If you find that you still have a lot of old clothing left over, you can either donate it to charity or sell it to a used clothing store for a little extra cash.
Prepare Your Home for Winter
It’s never too early to start preparing for winter, especially if you live in an area that gets especially cold. Preparing your home for colder months can actually save you tons in heating and energy bills while also keeping your family safe and warm. As the temperature continues to drop, you will want to ensure that you plug the gaps around the edges of doors and windows and cover drafty windows with a heavy duty clear plastic bag. It has been noted that you can reduce your heating costs up to 30% by sealing off problem areas like this, especially during the winter months. On top of sealing your home against cool drafts, you can install energy-efficient heating systems that will not only keep your home warm but also allow you to save on heating costs.
Stock Up on Sale Items
Before you get too far into fall, it is important to take advantage of end-of-season deals that a lot of stores have, especially regarding back-to-school supplies. As most retailers will hold a back-to-school sale, it is a great idea to take advantage of the low autumn prices and stock up on school supplies for the entire year. As an added money-saving tip, you can even plan ahead and stock up on small, cute stocking stuffers such as fun erasers, markers and other creative play sets that are great for both school and Christmas. These money-saving opportunities also work great when planning ahead for summer months, as you can often get summer patio furniture and other similar home items on sale that can make your home look great while also making it safer. Stocking up on them in the fall is a great way to stretch your savings throughout the entire year.
Cozy Weather, Comfortable Savings
Fall is a great time of year to embrace change and reassess your family finances. Use the time to break out new clothes, get rid of old ones, prepare your home for winter and even sit down and manage your budget to ensure you are on track for the year. The great news is that, even if you’re not, there are plenty of ways to save throughout autumn and well into winter to ensure you end the year with more than you started with.
