A reader recently asked me how to save on Halloween expenses. I had to stop and think because my youngest child is 13 and no longer goes trick-or-treating so we don’t buy costumes. Additionally, we don’t get kids here trick-or-treating so I don’t buy candy. For me, that means problem solved, I spend nothing. However, here are a few suggestions for those that are celebrating:
Costume(s)-I am FAR from crafty or handy. I was a single parent for many years and didn’t have a lot of extra cash for costumes nor was I going to make any. You don’t have to sew or be crafty as much as you need to put your mind to work. One year my daughter was a lady bug. She had black pants and a red sweatshirt. I used makeup I had in the house to put black dots on her face. I bought a headband and twisted pipe cleaners to it for the antennae. Those cost me a buck or so. I also painted (again about a dollar for some paint) black dots on the back of her red sweatshirt (even I can handle dots). Costume issue solved for under $5!
Candy- This one is easy. Watch for a sale and combine it with a coupon. There are plenty of blogs around doing coupon match-ups so this is even easier than it was for me in the mid and 90′s when I had to buy it. Another thought if you can’t or don’t want to buy candy, give out pennies. A small handful makes the little ones happy (at least it does for most of them).
Party- Assuming this party is for kids (if you are an adult and can’t afford a party, it is best to skip it altogether) keep it cheap by putting in a family friendly Halloween DVD for the kids. Follow it up with a scavenger hunt (after all it is Halloween all you have to do is hide candy, no need to hide anything expensive). It will keep the kids busy, they will have fun, and a hunt takes longer than most party games (and it is cheap)!
Have a safe and happy Halloween!
I also posted last week about inexpensive Halloween ideas, if anyone wants to see. http://rmg-anordinaryhousewife.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloween-on-dime.html