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4 Smart Ways to Save Money This Fall

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.

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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.

Jon Lal is the founder and CEO of coupons and cash back website BeFrugal.com, which saves shoppers an average of $27 per order thanks to coupons plus an average of 7 percent cash back at more than 5,000 stores.