Fall has finally arrived along with all the wonderful things that go with the season. It's the perfect time to spend time with your family baking pies, sitting around the bonfire, watching football, or even going apple picking. Not only is apple picking a great way to save money and get exercise, it's also a wonderful way to spend the evening with your family.

There are literally thousands of apple orchards located across the United States. Not only are apple orchards simply gorgeous, but you can save money by picking the apples yourself. Best of all, orchards also have fruit stands where you can try new varieties of apples before you go apple picking. They also have cakes, pies, turnovers, and other delicious treats made from the apples picked fresh from the orchard.

Let's not forget all the exercise your family will get as they make their way through the orchard. Orchards usually span many acres, especially if the orchard has several varieties of apples to choose from. Not to mention that carrying your apple loot back to the car can also burn quite a few calories.

What do you do with all those great apples after you get them home? While you could just eat them, why not continue your family night by making some delicious treats with the apples? You could bake pies, make apple bread, dip the apples in caramel, etc. There are thousands of delicious apple recipes available online. You could even make pie filling and can it for later use. The sky's the limit when it comes to freshly picked apples.

Family night doesn't have to cost a fortune. Sometimes all it takes is taking a tradition from long ago and introducing it to your children. Chances are you probably already buy apples for your children so why not take them to the orchard to pick their own? Not only will you save money, but you're helping the environment by purchasing local produce rather than fruit that was shipped from across the country.

There comes a time when all kids want a redo in their rooms. As many shows have proven, this can be done for free or at least on a small budget. Best of all, a small room can usually be redone in one night. If you have more than one child, the family can band together for the entire weekend to redo everyone's room. Even the master bedroom could get a makeover.

Sometimes all a room needs is a new layout. In these cases, you don't have to spend a dime. All you need to do is sit down, draw out the room, and try different configurations. Taking time to plan the room before you start moving furniture will ensure you don't have to move the furniture numerous times.

If the room needs more than just rearranging, the first step is to decide how big your budget is and what needs to be done. With a budget in mind, you can better determine how much money can be spent on each item. For example, you may want to spend $100 on the room. This means that you could put aside $25 for paint, $30 for a new comforter set, etc.

Before you go shopping though, take time to measure the room for new pieces and to determine how much paint you need. For example, let's say a child has reached the point where they need a desk. Instead of rushing out and buying a desk, decide where you want to place the desk and then measure the area. This ensures that the furniture actually works in the space.

Last, but not least, don't forget how much money you can save by reworking items. For example, dressers can be painted to match a new color scheme. Drawer pulls can also be changed to fit a new style. Believe it or not, little tips like this will save a lot of money.

Don't put off those much needed room remodels. With just a little bit of money, or no money at all, children's rooms can be made new again. Best of all, this makes a great gift for birthdays and holidays.

The decision to cut out or cut back on television and video games for young children might not be an easy one for your family to make. When screen time plays a big role in your family time, eliminating it can leave both children and their parents wondering what to do to fill the void. Making TV time and video game time family fun time, however, benefits your children and your family in more ways than you may realize.

Family fun time doesn't have to be a chore. Instead, make family fun time the time for your family to engage in something you enjoy. Select a game or a puzzle that everyone can enjoy. Play the family favorite Monopoly with a twist; Zappos Monopoly includes favorite Zappos brands that teenagers will recognize and adults will appreciate. Or if you have a house filled with little ones, consider purchasing a Melissa and Doug alphabet puzzle. Not only will you be spending time interacting with your children, but there's an educational component as well. Family fun time with puzzles and games is a great alternative to screen time.

If a family fun afternoon or evening with games and puzzles isn't your style, consider getting everyone in your house motivated and going outdoors. Enjoy the fresh air, go for a walk, take the little kids to the playground or consider a bike ride or a low-impact hike. Be sure to purchase comfortable and well fitting shoes for your children before you head out; consider New Balance Kids as one option to get you started with the youngest of children.

Whatever you do, you won't regret turning off the box and doing something with your children. Whether you decide to get outside and go for a walk or grab a board game and see who's got what it takes, spending time interacting with your children without television and video games can benefit everyone.