October: The month when zombies, vampires and werewolves roam freely, but what’s really scary is having a kid in college with a tuition bill due.
1. Leave the Leaves Alone
October is traditionally leaf-raking season, but like a lot of things in nature, when man alters the way Mother Nature intended things to be, the outcome isn’t nearly as good as just leaving things alone.
Let’s face it: Leaves fall from trees, and I seriously doubt that humans were put on Earth for the sole purpose of picking them all up. Leaving leaves where they fall -- or even piling up more of them as natural mulch -- on garden beds and other areas outdoors will fertilize and enhance the quality of the soil and help retain ground moisture.
The one exception might be leaves on the lawn -- but even then, organic gardeners say don’t rake them. Instead turn them into mulch by mowing over them a time or two and leaving them on the grass for an all-natural fertilizer. Of course, if you just have to rake the leaves, be sure to add them to your compost pile rather than send them away in plastic bags to spend eternity in a landfill.
2. Forage for Wild Nuts
Wild foods have experienced a resurgence in popularity recently, not only as a method for stretching the family food budget, but as a unique way to enjoy and learn more about our natural environment. Foraging on public lands is increasingly allowed, and books and websites on the topic are as plentiful as acorns under oak trees this time of year.
One of my favorite foraging websites is the highly entertaining and informative wildmanstevebrill.com. If you’re new to foraging or reluctant to feast on found fare, start this fall by searching for a wide range of wild nuts; while some nuts are tastier than others, nearly all varieties are edible (consult a guidebook just to be sure), and you’ll save bushels of cash compared to buying nuts in the store.
3. A Good Month to Practice Spending Procrastination
Of course, cheapskates like me practice “spending procrastination” year round, putting off until tomorrow what we’re tempted to buy today. But October is one of the best months of the year to be a spending procrastinator – cheapskate or not – since year-end and Black Friday deals are not too far off, and retailers tend to hold off on their best steals of the year until then.
The folks at DealNews.com say that October is a good buying opportunity for at least a few things, including new cars, since many manufacturers release their latest models in September and by now dealers are increasingly anxious to unload last year’s inventory.
DealNews also suggests buying camping gear, iPads, blue jeans, Thanksgiving airfare and carryout pizza this month. How’s that for an eclectic shopping list?
4. Apply for Leftover College Scholarships
Another case where procrastination might not always be a bad thing: Many scholarship deadlines arrive in October, and former Scholarship America CEO Clifford Stanley said in 2009 that there are millions of scholarship dollars left unused every year.
Students either don't apply or they don't apply on time. Only one in 10 students receive some kind of college scholarship, but even without stellar grades, you might score some of that money that’s still left on the table by applying in the 11th hour (or 10th month, in the case of October).
A good online resource for finding out more about college scholarships and other financial aid is bigfuture.collegeboard.org, and my favorite guide for getting a quality college education without borrowing money in order to do so (and without even getting any scholarships!) is the book "Debt-Free U," by Zac Bissonnette.
5. Adopt a Shelter Dog
October is National Adopt-a-Dog Month, and if you have space in your home and heart, I encourage you to adopt a Fido-in-need from an animal shelter or other facility. Sure, to own and care for any pet properly is an added expense, but the benefits of dog ownership are pretty significant, including increased exercise and agility for their owners, along with stress relief and companionship that can reduce your risk for everything from heart disease to depression.
Before you go in search of your new best friend, check out this video and the website of the American Humane Society (AmericanHumane.org) for tips on selecting the right dog for you and your budget.
6. Celebrate Moldy Cheese Day: Oct. 9
You probably already know that Oct. 9 is National Moldy Cheese Day, but like a lot of folks, you might still be wondering if it’s okay to eat cheese when it’s sprouting some mold. Some people cheddar at the very thought of eating moldy cheese, but there’s gouda news when it comes to salvaging some moldy cheeses.
According to this article on the Mayo Clinic website, in general, softer cheeses like cream cheese, brie and cottage cheese should be trashed when they turn moldy, but many harder cheeses, including Swiss, cheddar and gorgonzola are safe to eat after trimming away the moldy parts. See the Mayo site for a complete listing of cheeses and related safe handling instructions, and have a happy Moldy Cheese Day!
7. Travel Almost Anywhere on Columbus Day Weekend
Of all the three-day holiday weekends throughout the year, the Columbus Day weekend is one of the least busy, travel-wise, with the exception of fall foliage tourism in some parts of the country. And fall in general is “shoulder” season in many popular tourist destinations, when lower prices and smaller crowds reward those who are able to travel in the autumn.
Some special fall travel bargains include international “repositioning cruises” and one-way car rentals without drop off fees (just Google both), as cruise lines and car rental companies relocate their fleets to different parts of the country/world to meet seasonal demands.
8. Declutter to Clutter Up Your Christmas Fund
Fall is a perfect time to get rid of unwanted items by selling them at a yard sale, on Craigslist or at a consignment store. Now that you’ve figured out which clothes (aka “all of them”) the kids have outgrown since last school year, it’s time to sell, sell, sell! And why bother packing away summer seasonal items like sporting equipment and lawn and garden items if you know that you won’t use them again next year? With only about two months left until Christmas, now is the time to start padding your Christmas savings account.
9. Take the Financial Fright Out of Halloween
Halloween is now the fourth most popular spending holiday in the U.S. The National Retail Federation predicts Americans will spend about $7.4 billion this year leading up to Oct. 31 -- nearly $78 a person!
Consider making your own costumes from things you already have around the house (like the creative ideas here), recycling costumes from previous years, or swapping old costumes with friends and family. And don’t forget to stock up on discounted costumes, decorations and candy (most of which freezes well) after Halloween is history.
10. Eat Your Jack-o’-Lantern
As my long suffering wife likes to say, “Jeff, can’t we at least celebrate the holiday before you eat all of the decorations?”
Well, at Halloween time you can actually have your Jack-o’-lantern and eat it too! Seriously. While some varieties of pumpkins are grown specifically to be eaten and are tastier and a little meatier than others, any commonly available pumpkin is edible. And I’m not just talking about eating the seeds and pulp -- even the pumpkin rind can be pickled and eaten.
Pumpkins are incredibly healthy, and you can usually score them for under 50 cents a pound this time of year, particularly the day after Halloween. Americans throw away more than a billion pounds of perfectly edible pumpkin every year; please join my crusade this Halloween to "Prevent Pumpkincide” by eating your Jack-o’-Lantern. This video shows you how.
Always remember the words of the late American humorist Art Buchwald, who was born on Oct. 20, 1925: “Whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times, it’s the only time we’ve got.”
Photo credit: Teo