October is one of my favorite months. The weather finally starts to get cooler and we get to prepare for fall decorating. Up north, of course, you get to see the leaves change and smell the crisp cool clear air. Here are some must do’s for October:

• Register to vote. Deadlines differ by state so take a moment right now to find out how much longer you have. Don’t delay, register today.
• Buy or make a fall wreath for your front door. This will liven up the entrance to your home and make you feel welcome in your own home.
• Take your kids to an actual pumpkin patch. Let them roam around and choose the family pumpkin.
• Spend an evening close to Halloween carving the pumpkin together as a family. Or, get multiple pumpkins and let everyone have his/her own to carve.
• Open the windows and let the cool breezes in. In Florida, this is the first time of the year we can let the crisp air in doors. It’s an exciting time to be able to feel the freshness of the air blowing throughout the house.
• Take a hay ride.
• Shop early for Halloween costumes. Don’t wait until the day before or even the week before. Set aside some time this weekend to hunt for that perfect costume, or to visit the fabric store if you are crafty enough to make a costume. The point is, don’t let yourself get stressed out at the last minute. Stay ahead of the madness.
• Put brightly colored fall leaves between wax paper and iron them together. Send these beauties to someone who doesn’t live in an area where the leaves change.
• Set a financial goal. This has nothing to do with it being October, but has everything to do with the economy. Know about your money.

Last night I watched The Oprah Winfrey Show, which featured financial guru Suze Orman. Wow, was it a scary and powerful show. All about finances and the current state of the economy, Suze laid down a firm hand for several families who appeared on the show.

One such family, a couple from Florida, who owes $90,000 in credit card debt, with no jobs. When asked if they can afford their home, they faltered with a yes and explained their rationale that it will cost us just as much to rent something as their mortgage costs (which they admit they can’t afford).They’ve been paying the minimum on more than 25 credit cards, then using the cards to pay their mortgage, food, etc. WOW!

Suze didn’t let them off easy. It was almost hard to watch. She explained that owning a home costs more than the mortgage (something she’s said before) — it’s the mortgage, insurance, lawn care, heating and cooling bills, etc. that adds up. By the end of the show, the couple realized they were going to have to sell their home and move their kids into something else.

Suze really hit home for all Americans that we spend more than we make. This is serious. It’s not a joke and people need to start living honestly, as she says. Buy only what you can afford.

Here’s a clip from the smack down:

Related:

• Recession Proof Your Life from Oprah.com
• Are You Protected Financially? Quiz from Oprah.com
• Talk about this episode

Another great segment from Tory Johnson on “Good Morning America” this morning. Johnson has a new book, “Will Work From Home.” In it, she highlights the five best businesses that allow people (not just women) to work from home. Everything from the uber-chic Etsy.com to hourly service-industry positions.

What I love most about Johnson is how she is so inspiring. She makes you believe in yourself and your dreams. I haven’t read the book, but think it will help many women define their futures.

Related:

• Buy Johnson’s new book, “Will Work From Home” now.
• Read the full article, “Five Best Work-From-Home Jobs.“
• Other work-from-home titles from Amazon.com.

I just found a Twitter page that lists Web sites that are offering free (yes, FREE) products. The Twitter writer is Stefani from Mommy Enterprises. She’s created the page just for the free stuff she finds.

I’ll be writing more about Twitter in the future, but for those who’ve never used it, it’s a micro-blogging tool that people use to convey short messages. You don’t have to register in order to read someone’s Twitter page. Just go to the URL and read away.

Stefani’s Freebie Alert contains what seem to be some interesting links … like the Barnes & Noble offer where kids earn a free book when he/she reads 8 books. Another … 20% off Gymboree.com - Coupon code 517545342820. And another … free sippy cup from Juicy Juice.

Related:

• Freebie Alert on Twitter
• Twitter home page
• Mommy Enterprises Blog
• Balancing Motherhood’s Twitter page

Read a great article this weekend in “The Orlando Sentinel” about allowances for children. Here’s some of the advice the author gives about how much to give your kids:

Beginning around the ages of 5 to 7, give 50 cents for each year old the child is.

At age 10, give $1 per years old.

Ouch, that second one could get costly for parents. A 14-year-old will get $56 a month. With the rising cost of gas and food, $56 would be a substantial chunk out of the family budget. I remember when I was in about the eighth grade, I got $5 a week. And, I was happy for it. A classmate of mine got $10! Her parents were rich. I remember dreaming of what I would do with $10 a week.

Since my son is only two, I don’t have to deal with this issue for a few more years. Gives me time to decide how much, and for what, I’ll give him.

The article goes on to talk about giving your kids money as a tool, to learn from and to teach proper work ethic. Read the full article here.