If you bought so much #Halloween candy that you only have a little money left to decorate, there are plenty of ways to make your home look #spooky for scary-cheap. Make tombstones out of cardboard to turn your yard into a creepy #cemetery, haunt the trees and porch with few DIY spider webs (and giant spiders to match), make felt bats, or ghost-light your walkway with haunted luminaria, Money Crashers suggests. And remember: You can find lots of spooky supplies (including lightly used clothing for creative costumes) at thrift stores supplied by generous donations to ClothingDonations.org.
Author: Jordank
Editorial Coordinator
Check the Thrift for Football Fan Gear
Football season is in full swing, and just six weeks in, it has been a roller-coaster ride for many fans. The early part of the season has been marked by an unusual number of huge upsets, shaking up the standings and causing some to question their longtime allegiances.
But for fans looking forward to having their favorite teams make the playoffs (or banking on their Fantasy Football picks), every week is a make-or-break viewing. And for true fans, nothing beats having a jersey or other souvenir announcing which team the support.
On game day, you want to be wearing a pro jersey from your favorite team with your favorite player’s name stitched on the back, or at least a T-shirt or cap with the team logo. Bears or Lions, Patriots or Jets, Saints or Seahawks, fans just have to have the merch.
The trouble is, that stuff is expensive. An “official” NFL Green Bay Packers jersey with Aaron Rogers’ name and number on it starts at $99.99. Add your own last name and another two-digit number, and the price shoots up to $149.99.
This isn’t limited to football only, of course; baseball, basketball and hockey fans have their own high-priced fan gear. Astros, Cardinals, Nationals and Yankees gear will see a surge in sales this week, as those teams vie to compete in Major League Baseball’s World Series.
There is a less costly answer, though, if you’re headed to a gameday event and need to show your sartorial support. The local thrift! Supplied by generous donations to ClothingDonations.org, they are an incredible resource of sports paraphernalia.
Think about it: Pro (and college) sports teams are something lots of people rally around. And a lot of those people — fans — buy themselves new stuff, gain or lose weight, and otherwise grow out of their gear. When they weed that extra stuff out, they often donate it.
That means that the local thrift has lots of jerseys, T-shirts and other stuff representing local and regional teams. It may even have stuff from out-of-town teams if a few of your neighbors have moved to the area and/or maintained their fandoms from afar.
Fan gear is in wide demand, and there is no shortage of it — so why pay more? Track it down at the thrift, and you’ll pay pennies on the dollar compared to buying new. And if you have outgrown some of your own fan gear, donate it to ClothingDonations.org; it will be resold to help fund valuable veterans programs. Yay team!
Do Late-Season Lawn Care Before Winter
Don’t let the snow start falling without first taking care of your lawn, the Old Farmer’s Almanac says. To ensure a lush, green expanse of grass in the spring, rake and dethatch your lawn, then aerate it to reduce soil compaction. October is a good time to fertilize, weed and seed your lawn, too, to promote new growth that crowds out broadleaf weeds. Buy a soil test kit from your local garden center to if you’re having trouble establishing grass and other plants; you’ll want to balance soil to about 6.5 pH and may need to add lime, sulfur, potash, potassium and other enhancements to get your grass to grow.
It’s Time to Plant Flowering Bulbs for Spring
October is the perfect time to plant the bulbs that will bring your garden color next spring and throughout the year, says the Dodge City Daily Globe. Most flowering bulbs perform well in conditions with full sun to part shade, and sandy loam or ameliorated garden soils with a pH of 6.0–7.0. Planting depths vary — large bulbs such as tulips should be planted about 6″ deep, while smaller bulbs need as little as 2″ of soil cover. Plant bulbs in clumps for best results in display; they are not “row” flowers like many annuals. Keep the soil moist, add a layer of mulch, and wait for the spring thaw and colorful blooms!
Plant Trees and Shrubs Before the Freeze
Fall is a great time to do some #planting. Many new trees and shrubs that go in now will have the chance to establish roots before the freeze, giving them a jump start on the new season. “You can get stuff in the ground, and just walk away,” nursery manager Mike Ingalls told Vermont’s Seven Days. “The trees are in place and ready to go in the spring, starting to grow in their forever home. They’re already popping.” What’s more, trees and shrubs planted now will resume their natural growing cycle — and may even show some fall colors before going dormant for the winter.