If you ask me, this pumpkin spice trend has gotten completely out of hand.

There are pumpkin spice cookies, cereal, yogurt, coffee creamer, protein bars, candles, hand soap and probably motor oil by now. Every fall, America collectively loses its mind over cinnamon and nutmeg while the pumpkin itself sits quietly in the produce department wondering what it did to deserve this.

And yet, here I am.

I like pumpkin spice. There. I said it.

What I don't particularly like is paying nearly $7 for someone to put it in a paper cup and hand it to me through a window.

The good news is that enjoying one of life's seasonal pleasures does not require surrendering your grocery budget. Pumpkin spice, despite what the marketing departments would have us believe, is neither rare nor exotic. You really can make your own pumpkin spice everything for just pennies. And you probably already have everything you need.

Mix 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 1 tablespoon ground ginger, 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon ground allspice and 1 teaspoon ground cloves.

That's it. Put it in a small jar, shake it up and label it "Pumpkin Pie Spice."

No pumpkin is involved. This comes as a surprise to some people, but pumpkin spice is simply a blend of spices traditionally used to season pumpkin pie.

Once you've made your own, you may discover that those tiny jars at the grocery store have been enjoying a rather impressive profit margin.

Now, about that coffee ...

Here's where things can get expensive in a hurry.

Make your regular coffee at home. While it's hot, stir a small pinch of your pumpkin pie spice into the grounds before brewing, or sprinkle just a touch into the finished coffee. Add milk or cream and sweeten to taste.

For something closer to a coffee-shop treat, warm about half a cup of milk with a spoonful of pumpkin puree, a little sugar or maple syrup, a splash of vanilla and a pinch of pumpkin pie spice. Whisk until frothy and pour it into strong coffee.

Congratulations. You have just made a pumpkin spice latte without applying for financing.

And don't throw away the rest of that can of pumpkin. Spoon tablespoon-size portions onto a parchment-lined plate or tray, then freeze. Once solid, transfer them to a freezer container. Now you've got little pumpkin portions ready for future coffees, oatmeal, smoothies or muffins.

Buying the fall version of everything is where I draw the line.

Manufacturers know that putting leaves, pumpkins and the words "limited edition" on a package can loosen our grip on our wallets. Before tossing that pumpkin-spice whatever into your cart, compare the price with the ordinary version.

Plain oatmeal plus your homemade spice? Fall oatmeal.

Vanilla yogurt plus pumpkin puree and spice? Pumpkin yogurt.

Pancake batter plus pumpkin and spice? You get the idea. You don't need an entirely separate pantry for October.

I love the smell of fall as much as anyone, but I don't need a $30 candle to announce that October has arrived.

Put a small saucepan of water on the stove with cinnamon sticks, a few whole cloves and orange or apple peels. Let it barely simmer, adding water as needed and never leaving it unattended. Or use a slow cooker instead, then you really can set it and forget it.

Your house will smell wonderful, and you just found a respectable use for some things headed for the garbage disposal.

There's a larger lesson hiding underneath all this cinnamon. Being frugal doesn't mean stripping every unnecessary pleasure from life. Quite the opposite. It's learning how to keep the pleasure and lose the ridiculous price tag.

So yes, I'm enjoying pumpkin spice this fall. I'll put it in my coffee. I'll put it in oatmeal. I may even get carried away and put it in pancakes.

Just don't expect me to pay seven bucks for it. I have cinnamon. And I know how to use it.

Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, "Ask Mary." This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book "Debt-Proof Living."

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