Year of Motivation | 10 things to do in October

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Yep it’s October. And while most are plotting their Halloween costume, I say this is the month to start planning ahead for the holiday season as well. You’ll see this month’s to do list has a mix of both things to do in the fall Halloween season but also looking ahead to the gift giving season. This will help you stress less as you can cross some things off early but can also help your wallet as your expenses can be spread out more.

Learn how it’s never too early to look ahead to the holiday season while also focusing on today! Let’s do this, October!

Plot and start your Halloween costume! You have 30 days from today to figure out what you’re going to make for you or your kids if you’re going the DIY approach. Or order early to make sure you get the costume your kids want. Have toddlers? Consider a strawberry, tiger or pig costume I’ve made for my girls in the past! Full tutorials on each link.
Schedule your holiday card session. October and early November are great times of the year to get your family photos done for holiday cards. Bonus: there are always free card offers in these months so take advantage of these freebies!
Write your gift list. Who do you have to buy gifts for this year? Have any ideas on what you want to buy them?
Consider a rebate app to make some money on your groceries. I’ve been using Ibotta for about 2 years now and I do make back money on everyday items I already buy. They sometimes have rebates for specific things we buy (like Eggo waffles or Hefty trash bags) but I mostly use it to redeem rebates for the “any brand” category items. Yes I can get money back for buying things like milk, bread, eggs, rolls, bananas etc. With the next few months full of bigger baking/cooking/hosting opportunities, you can surely use some extra cash flow on things you already buy!

Make a cute food. There are SOOO many cute Halloween themed treats this time of the year so give one of them a go! Check out my Owl Cupcakes, Monster brownies or Monster pretzels for inspiration.
Test a baked recipe. The next two months are all about opportunities to bring a baked good to an event or gathering so use this month to test out recipes before the big day.
Unsubscribe from at least 3 email newsletters. The holidays are coming up and companies will be beefing up their email marketing campaigns. Combat this upcoming explosion in your inbox and unsubscribe now from at least 3 newsletters you know you won’t need for holiday orders.

Start those handmade holiday gifts! Consider cross stitching a family portrait? Want to make custom ornaments for everyone on your list? Get crafting!
Try a crock pot recipe. The weather is getting cooler so now’s the time to test a colder weather recipe that you can enjoy all winter long.
Do a one hour cleanup. For one hour, focus on ONE thing in your house and just clean and organize. You might only put a dent in a big project and you might get more done than you think. But turn off your phone, crank up some music and get to work cleaning!