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Well friends, it’s that time of year again. Pumpkin spice is around every corner you turn and the fall decor of your dreams is hitting the shelves.
Do you have an overspending problem when it comes to fall decor? I know I do.
In the midst of endless influential content, us consumers tend to feel pressured into buying only the best and trendiest seasonal items to feel part of the culture.
I’ve spent the last two falls enabling myself to splurge at Marshall’s, Trader Joe’s, World Market, etc. This year, I am challenging myself to live within my means, especially gearing up for the holidays.
As a child from a low income household, I learned very quickly that Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas often came at the expense of the daily basic needs like food, hot water, and sometimes even our electricity. Usually a “good Christmas” (in terms of presents) meant we would go without cable and spend a few days taking hot showers at my grandmothers.
I don’t want to feel like I have to sacrifice one thing for the other, but it’s getting harder as groceries are priced higher and higher and the need to consume to feel good becomes the cultural norm.
So, how do we curate the fall aesthetic of our dreams without overspending? Well, it’s simple really. We have to focus on the experiences rather than the material items. Strip away the desire to buy a tote box worth of new decor and think about fall at its core. Think about the ways it excites you most, the way it ignites your senses, and use those feelings to discover what matters and what doesn’t.
As promised, here are some tips to help you create your perfect fall aesthetic on a budget:
Start with the Vision
To discover your ideal fall aesthetic, head to Pinterest and create a board that showcases the things you love.
I found that doing this before any project or season helps me focus on what it is I actually want from what’s ahead of me. Fill the board with experiences you want, the fall colors that excite you, treats you want to bake, etc.
If you don’t have or care for Pinterest, you can easily do this same thing in your notes or on a piece of paper. Rather than collecting visuals, list out what you want out of the season. Use crayons or colored pencils to fill it with the colors you resonate with when thinking about fall. You can keep this in a journal, somewhere on your phone, or even put it on your fridge or the wall.
Don’t Buy Anything Just Because it’s Cheap
If I had a dollar for every time I bought something I hardly liked just because it was cheap, I would have enough to buy the things I really wanted. Read that again. If you can relate, let’s make a promise to each other that we will never do this again. Not with clothing, not with decor, not with food. Let’s just stop.
Yes, budgeting is important, but quality reigns over quantity every time.
Convincing yourself to buy a few cheaper items just because they’re cheaper is worse than saving up and just buying the one more expensive thing that would have made you happy.
It’s all about balance.
Make Your Own Coffee Syrups and Sauces
This is something I’ve been trying on this past year, but am most excited to explore this fall. Gourmet coffees at coffee shops can be anywhere from $5 to $9 these days and while it’s perfectly fine to treat yourself every once in awhile, learning recipes to make my own has been a whole treat of its own.
This past week I made a batch of pumpkin marshmallow sauce and it was phenomenal. Not only was it the perfect addition to my morning coffee, but the sweet pumpkin spice aroma filled the kitchen while I was making it. It was the perfect activity to welcome fall into my home.
You can store them in the fridge for up to two weeks, which means two weeks of delicious coffee equal to about the price of one!
Remember: the most basic components of a syrup is one part sugar to one part water, so get creative with it and add things that interest you. With some heavy cream, you can turn any of the syrups into cold foam!
I promise it’s worth trying once, but if it’s not for you, another option is buying crafted syrups from the store. Monin sells them for around $11.
Here are some recipes to try!
Candles
Candles are a cozy fall staple, not just for the scent but for the moody lighting. If you’re like me and buying a bunch of pumpkin or vanilla scented candles is your cup of tea this time of year, we need to think about this practically.
It’s important to note that candles can be very expensive depending on where you buy from and don’t always last as long as you want them to.
This year, to comfortably fill my home without breaking the bank, I’ve taken a new approach to candles.
- First, I am slowly collecting unscented candles from thrift stores (I say slowly because you won’t and shouldn’t find these all at once. It’s a slow process but worth it.) It’s shocking how many beautiful pillar candles get donated. These will be perfect for setting the mood. Note: Plain ones are perfect for painting!
- Next, I bought a set of battery operated, flickering, taper candles. I like these because I can have them “lit” while I’m laying in bed without worrying about blowing them out or having my cat knock them over. They weren’t the cheapest but they are a solid and beautiful investment.
- Then, I allow myself one fall scented candle to act as the scent booster. You can find beautifully scented and somewhat cheap candles from TJ Maxx or Marshalls, Target, or local shops. The goal is to find the one you love the most, the one that screams fall to your brain. That will be your baby.
DIY Home Decor
Talk about feeling nostalgic! Why did we stop crafting our own fall/Halloween decor after grade school? Last year I scavenged up some construction paper and jute twine and made a few paper garlands as well as some paper bats to tape to the walls. It was such a fun and cheap way to add more to my space.
Pick out some easy DIY craft ideas from Pinterest or Tik Tok and set up a craft night either with your kids, your friends, you partner, or just on your own. Remember to display everything!
Some noteworthy ideas:
- Painting thrifted candles. Think leaves, mushrooms, pumpkins, and bats.
- Paper garland. Trace and cut out your favorite shapes and hot glue them to thread to drape anywhere in your home.
- 3D bats. Cut out bat shapes on black paper. Fold the wings to look like they’re flying. Tape to the wall.
- Dried orange garland. There are tutorials for these all over Pinterest and they are so beautiful.
Music
Setting the mood for fall is not complete without music. There are so many playlists for different vibes all over Spotify, YouTube, and more. Try making your own so you can have something to play over a speaker while at home.
I’ve been listening to fall playlists on YouTube while writing or crafting to set the tone. In fact, I’m listening to this one right now. These ambience videos are also perfect for having guests over and add an extra note of coziness to the room.
Another simple decor idea for those that have a record player, is to display some appropriately colored album covers that match your aesthetic.
Use What You Already Own
Bouncing off of the record idea, using the items you already own to curate a fall aesthetic is an idea that can be easier than you think. Something as quick and simple as displaying a book or piece of glassware with the vibe, tone, or colors you’re going for make a huge impact.
Nothing needs to be overtly fall or Halloween themed. A blend of reds and yellows, browns and whites, or blacks and oranges is really all you need.
Emphasize Experiences
No matter what, your experience and the experiences of those around you will matter the most when it comes to any season.
Plan a rented Halloween movie night with your friends or family. Bake homemade pumpkin treats with your kids or partner. Plan a fall craft night. Go to the apple orchard or pumpkin patch.
The trends will come and go and you will forget all the items you didn’t buy when they were popular. No matter what, your experience and the experiences of those around you will matter the most when it comes to any season. Invest into the memories and traditions that you will feel nostalgic about for years to come.
What about fall excites you? Is there a a certain memory that comes to mind? Let me know in the comments.
From Calli with Love.
Calli with Love 
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