Embrace The Season With Simple And Budget-friendly Fall Decor Ideas

(Adapted from Julie's YouTube video)

You can bring that cozy vibe to your home without spending much money at all and do it in a way that doesn’t make you feel like you are scrimping, but rather, like you are living the good life.

Simple is Frugal and also Delightful

When Curt and I decided to create a budget for what we anticipated would work for us during our retirement years, my thinking quickly shifted back to all my early single mom years. In some ways, I’ve taken on this budget like a challenge. Having a budget has helped me be more thoughtful about whether I truly need something, whether I need it now, and how much of it do I truly need. And in the process, more and more, I’m finding that it’s the simple things that make me happiest and give me the feeling that I have everything that I need already.

Special Fall Drinks Create a Cozy Vibe

Whatever hot drink I make myself for the day can be one of those simple things or simple moments to savor. Whether it is a tea that I’ve purchased in bulk, making a mulled wine or brewing up my version of coffee or a mocha for the day, the extra moments that it takes to make these, make it feel a bit more special than simply using a bag out of a box. So, I treat it that way when I’m drinking it as well.

I love the taste of coffee, but these days I mostly drink Dandy Blend instead. It is made from dandelion roots and it tastes very much like coffee. I almost always add in my collagen for the day with it and sometimes I add a bit of cacao as well. 

Another drink that I have been savoring this fall is rose vanilla apple cider. Folks, this is SO good. The flavors of rose and vanilla and cider - ah, a perfect match. I got the recipe from the cookbook, My New Roots by Sarah Britton. I have to admit that I feel a little guilty in sharing how good this is with you, because I checked on her blog and this recipe is not on it. So you’ll have to get the cookbook yourself if you want to try it. If you enjoy cooking and you like eating healthy, delicious meals, you won’t be disappointed by her plant based cookbook. Here is the link to mynewroots.com where you can find the best place to purchase her cookbook as well as find a host of great recipes and ideas. 

Cozy Fall Decor Items are at Your Fingertips

When it comes to creating cozy fall vibes inside the home, I have come to realize that the simplicity of things that I pick up on my walks or am able to pick from my own flowers outside are every bit as delightful and cost little to nothing. A packet of marigold seeds is only a couple of dollars, but they can easily provide weeks of fall color inside your home. 

I heavily favor candlelight in the evenings as the weather gets cooler and one easy way to spruce up a couple of votives is to simply put them in a glass container filled with coffee beans. I used coffee beans that have been lingering in our refrigerator for awhile and know that they simply won't get used to make coffee any more. The votives I used were some unscented candles I got on sale last year.

When it comes to creating the seasonal feel you want in your home and you are trying to stay within your budget, challenging yourself to think about what you already have or can find in nature for free can make your money go further than you might expect.

Fall Frugal Practices in the Garden

Another place that I am saving money these days is in my gardens. I can remember that there was a time when I really longed to be able to have a lot of plants and flowers outside. I have that now, but this year I am being more thoughtful about how I care for my plant family.

For instance, last year I saved the seeds from my moonflower, which is a plant that I really love having each year. If you are not familiar with this flower, they are so awesome. They only bloom in the evenings and they have the most lovely scent.  Someone had given me one many years ago and it had reseeded itself, so I knew that I could save the seeds and try to grow them again in the spring. I was so excited to see them come up!

I also had developed some more wasteful habits of plant care during my corporate years, when it came to putting things to rest in the fall. I often just wasn’t as careful about protecting things when the first frost came through or properly putting some of my plants to bed properly before winter. So I lost a lot of them each year and then had to buy new ones in the spring if I wanted to have them again.

If you are a plant person, you probably recognize that, like everything, the prices have really gone up on potted plants. So this year I’m making my budget targets by being more careful about saving what I can, whether it’s the plants themselves or the seeds. It also tends to bring me a good deal of joy when I am able to nurture plants through the winter. 

Making Gifts - Another Frugal Practice

I really love making gifts for the holidays. Talk about cozy vibes!  It really warms your heart while you are creating something special for someone. You are thinking about the person you care about. You are using your creativity to make something in a way that will bring them joy. This can bring so much happiness to you as well and if you are careful in choosing projects and gathering supplies, it can save you a good bit of money in the process.

Frugal Doesn't Necessarily Mean Doing Without

I hope this blog post has given you a few ideas for creating your own cozy vies this season and to do so in a way that you get creative with what you already have access to.