Decorate For Fall On A Tight Budget

Halloween is almost here and if you are still not ready, get busy! Local stores still have a huge selection of costumes and home decor and man have coupons available as well. 

So if you've put off decorating your home this year for Halloween and do not want to bother with it since its less than a week away, then decorate for fall and leave it up until you pull out those winter holiday decorations.

This can be done very inexpensively.

All of those leaves in your yard right now can make excellent decorations inside the house. Have the kids go out and collect the best ones, then string them up and use Mother Nature's paper as garland across your fireplace, sprinkle them across your dining table or even fill a vase with them to add color to any room.

If you want to make them last all season without replacing them, put them between two sheets of wax paper on your ironing board. Lay an old T-shirt or a pillow case on top and iron them until the leaves look like they did outside. Cut the leaves out from the paper. The wax will protect them and will melt clear. You can even save these from year to year.

The pumpkins this year are around $4 a piece at , and at many of the grocery stores. If you buy them for Halloween and want them decorated, consider using washable paint or stickers to decorate them. You can put them out for Halloween and then still use them through Thanksgiving as porch decor.

Fresh autumn scented candles are the perfect way to warm a house with cinnamon, apples, pumpkin or other fall smells. Yankee Candle has a coupon here for $10 off a purchase of $25 or more. This is valid through Nov. 20. They are still having their buy one, get one 50 percent off sale as well.

has a variety of inexpensive scented soaps and candles that will make your home smell and look like fall is here. They are already moving in their winter holiday items and the fall products are on clearance. They have a great selection that is all marked at 50 percent off.

sells pumpkins that look real, but are not. They are carvable as well. You can carve one this year and store it from year to year for Halloween. Carve a seasonal design that works through next month and leave it out. Have fun with it  and illuminate with a battery or electric operated candle or glow stick.
sells bays of hay for a few bucks. Get a some of these for your yard. Place the full bales out with fall leaves and pumpkins around it. Get creative and stuff some old clothes with straw and create scare crows. This will make a cute fall display in your yard that the whole family can help with and enjoy all season long.

Decorating the dining room table can also be easily done with apples since they are very fall-ish. Fill a serving bowl or platter with them and accent with some outdoor leaves.

This is a great time of year to display the kids art projects or help them create new ones. Branches, acorns and leaves are excellent starter items. Grab some glue, glitter and your creativity for some fun family time that can also make your house look and feel festive.