Dear Kid,

Happy October!

It’s the first day of the 10th month, and it is a Day just made for college students.

First of all, it’s a Saturday which means sleeping in, tailgating, and an occasional football game.

Secondly, it’s October which means we can now begin the official countdown to Halloween. (NOW it’s appropriate to display Halloween merchandise. The stores jumped the gun big-time this year and had ghosts, goblins, and pumpkins parading around in the middle of August. Ridiculous.

It’s National Homemade Cookie Day. As far as I’m concerned, this includes cookies made in anyone’s home, cookies that have traveled to anyone’s home, and cookies eaten by anyone who has a home. DearKidLoveMom.comNext, it’s National Homemade Cookie Day. As far as I’m concerned, this includes cookies made in anyone’s home, cookies that have traveled to anyone’s home, and cookies eaten by anyone who has a home. I’m quite liberal when it comes to the Eating of the Confections.

Twelfth (one, two, skip a few…), it’s International Frugal Fun Day. And in honor of International Frugal Fun Day, here are 10 ideas for having some Frugal Fun at college.

  1. Make cookies. It’s kind of a two-fer-one celebration!
  2. Go for a long walk. If you’re in a part of the world where the leaves are changing, enjoy the fall colors.
  3. Cook for someone. “I’ll cook if you buy the food,” is a fantastic offer that those not possessed of kitchen skills are often eager accept. Don’t forget the cookies.
  4. Read a book. For fun.
  5. Study. (It’s frugal even if it’s not fun. And it will free you up to have guilt-free fun later.)
  6. Get together with friends and play a board game. (Before or after the football game; it’s up to you. I would never suggest you pass up the game to play one of your own.)
  7. Plan your Halloween costume. Frugally.
  8. Go to Costco and eat your fill of the try-its. With any luck, they’ll have cookies out.
  9. Invite friends over to hang out. They don’t have any money either.
  10. Attend stuff on campus. There are always tons of things to do (and lots of them offer free food—and cookies).

Happy October, kid.

Love, Mom