Heres thelatest Halloween scoop: Pumpkins have an afterlife just like ghosts.
They arent just for Jack-o-lanterns anymore.
Get the most out of your money and use that pumpkin for two, three or four more purposes.
Is Your Paycheck Not Going As Far As It Used To?
We get it.Everythingis more expensive than it used to be, but your paycheck hasnt kept up.
When money is tight,these resourceswill help nearly everyone.
The Top Choice?
Eat Your Pumpkin
Eating your pumpkin is probably the most enjoyable way to use it.
Theres a pumpkin recipe for every part of your gourd even those stringy guts.
While it doesnt sound appetizing on its own, pumpkin puree is the gourds gift that keeps on giving.
Pumpkin puree is the base for most of the dishes on this list.
Creating the puree is simple: Just boil, bake or steam your pumpkin, according toGood Housekeeping.
Curl up on your own couch with a homemadepumpkin spice latte.
Save time and money and make that me time a little more cozy.
Heres arecipethat can even be vegan from Champagne-Tastes.com.
Heres an easy recipe from SeriousEats.com for makingpumpkin liqueurto mix with vodka.
And what goes better with Halloween than apumpkin martini?
Are you getting in a festive mood?
Liquor.com offers11 recipesfor drinks that taste better with a dash of pumpkin.
Need a dinner idea for Nov. 1?
Try this yummy vegetarianpumpkin lasagna.
Taste of Home calls it a comforting fall dish who doesnt love those?
This seasonal treat is delicious on toast, in smoothies or on oatmeal.
you’re able to make it pumpkin spice season all year if you freeze extra pumpkin puree.
Check out thissimple recipe on Oh She Glows.
(Bonus, if this is important to you: Its vegan).
Theyre a classic snack for a reason.
Try adding them to other veggie bits like carrot tops and/or onion ends tomake a flavorful stock.
If youre looking for something a little heartier than soup, try this recipe from Diana Johnson ofEating Richly.
She calculates that making two loaves costs about $2.
If youre pickle-obsessed, youll want to try these babies.
For a sweeter pickle to go with desserts or cheese platters, try thispickled sugar pumpkin recipefrom Serious Eats.
This is a whole different kind of chip thats filling and fun.
Decorate With Pumpkins
Even if Halloween is over, fall continues.
Pumpkins make great additions to your home, garden and holiday decorations.
Save on decorations (and dishwashing) by using pumpkins as serving bowls for soup or cider.
Heres an easy way tomake a pumpkin bowl, from Sanam Lamborn of My Persian Kitchen.
Can You Survive 10 Days of Budgeting?
If you better wrangle your budget, it may be time to consider a savings challenge.
Keep the fall festivities going byusing your pumpkin as a planterfor a small potted plant.
Feed your neighborhood birds by makingthis simple bird feederfrom Instructables.
UsePinterest for ideasand inspiration.
Your pumpkins will make it to Thanksgiving as long as you choose wisely.
Three white pumpkinsor three pumpkins painted white make up a really hip snowman on your front steps.
Look at thiscute, crafty wayto make it happen.
Youll get an early start on your winter decorating.
And, if youre feeling entrepreneurial, you could even try selling your creations.
Try one of these fun ideas.
Out late at a Halloween party?
Add this to the list of fun ways tosave money with DIY beauty products!
If youd rather throw your pumpkin than eat it or decorate with it, try building apumpkin catapultortrebuchet.
All you need is some butcher or craft paper, a few paper plates and washable paint.
Or get a little more creative The Artful Parentexplains the details.
Not a fan of eating the seeds?
Instead, hold onto them toplant in your gardennext spring.
Growing your own pumpkins will save you money and let you enjoy even more homemade treats next year.
At the very least, your leftover pumpkin can help yougrow an incredible gardennext year.
Need a Hand With Bills?
Listen, we know its tough out there.
But theres no shame in asking for help.
These companiesmake it easy to help yourself and your bank account.
She is the author of Rules for the Southern Rulebreaker: Missteps and Lessons Learned.
Former Penny Hoarder staffer Heather van der Hoop contributed to this report.
