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4 Smart Ways to Save Money This Fall

By U.S. News & World Report

The beginning of fall can signal a fresh start and is the perfect excuse to step back and look at your goals for saving money. During summer we often overspend, as the hot temperatures result in more travel, frequent dining out and attending costly events like weddings.

[See: 10 Foolproof Ways to Reach Your Money Goals.]

Look forward to the upcoming autumn months with these smart money moves.

1. Eat at home for less. Cooler weather makes for the best cooking environment. Make your home cozy and welcoming by preparing your meals there instead of dining out at restaurants. The abundance of in-season fruits and vegetables from the autumn harvest makes this even easier. Squash, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and root vegetables will be inexpensive at your local grocery store or farmers market, and the recipe possibilities are endless. For fruit, try pears, figs, apples and cranberries.

Bonus money-saving tip: Look for “ugly” fruit or vegetables, often offered at a steep discount because their shapes aren’t ideal.

[See: How to Live on $13,000 a Year.]

2. Head outdoors. Hold off on signing up for a gym membership for another few months. Fall has the ideal temperatures for getting exercise outdoors. Plus, turning foliage makes for beautiful scenery. Look up hiking and walking trails in your area or sign up for a turkey trot, 5K race or 10K race.

While you’re outside, there are plenty of free or inexpensive entertainment options in fall. Each weekend offers a new farmers market, apple orchard, pumpkin patch, flea market or harvest festival to explore.

Bonus money-saving tip: Pledge to have a “no-spend” weekend once a month. Challenge yourself to find completely free activities. And if you’re headed out for the day, make sure to bring a bag lunch.

3. Make a plan for holiday shopping. Halloween might still be a month away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t think about the holidays. Don’t let the shopping season sneak up on you. Put in some time and preparation now, and you can save a lot of money later.

If you haven’t already, start a separate savings account or “holiday club” to put aside money for gifts. Look at last year’s lists (it helps to keep them digitally, so you can consult them each holiday season) and use it to create a budget for this year.

Bonus money-saving tip: Get a head start on your shopping by taking advantage of the sales available right now. September is the best month to find the lowest prices on laptop computers. Watch for the prices of older iPhone models to drop since the recent announcement of the newest versions. You can even find a few remaining sales from the back-to-school season, including apparel for kids.

[See: 9 Financial Tools You Should Be Using.]

4. Winterize your home. Now is the time to prepare your house for the frigid temperatures headed its way. You can improve the longevity of your home and save money on your monthly utility bills, as well as avoid unnecessary repair. Make sure your ceiling fan is rotating clockwise during the winter so that it pushes warm air down, allowing you to lower your thermostat. Seal any gaps or cracks around windows and doors to better insulate the indoors. Get your furnace inspected and make sure everything is functioning properly now — otherwise, it could be a costly fix at a time when you really need it. At the end of fall, make sure to clear your gutters of any leaves and debris.

Bonus money-saving tip: For now, go without both heat and air conditioning. Open the windows during the day to cool down your home, and a layer or two if things get chilly in the evening.

More from U.S. News

10 Frugal Ways to Save This Fall

12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families

12 Shopping Tricks to Keep You Under Budget

4 Smart Ways to Save Money This Fall originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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