Frugal Halloween

How do you celebrate Halloween when there is little cash in your wallet? The frugal Halloween way, of course!

Even though Halloween is the second highest spending season, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to give your family a fun and memorable Halloween.

Here are a few frugal tips from frugal moms.

Trade Costumes – Organize a costume swap party with friends and neighbors. Most certainly, they all have costumes that their children have either outgrown or aren’t interested in any longer. Make a pact to yourself that you are not going to spend money on costumes this year.

Make Your Costume At Home – Look around your house for old clothes, hats, accessories and craft supplies and make your own homemade Halloween costumes.

Plan Ahead! – Halloween candy and treats start appearing on store shelves around the first of September. By keeping an eye out for sales during the months of September and October, you’ll avoid that last minute panic of not having Halloween treats and paying full price.

Buy In Bulk - …. But be realistic about the quantity of treats you really need. If you only have ten or twenty kids ringing your doorbell every year, consider splitting a large, bulk package of goodies with a friend or neighbor.

Think Outside The Candy Box – There is no law that says you have to give candy to the trick-or-treaters on Halloween. In fact, many kids love to see something different in their bags when they get home. Plastic spider rings, pencils, mini microwave popcorn packs, mini pretzel bags, sticks of gum are all great, economical and healthy treats to give away.

Try Pennies And Stickers – Kids love stickers and stickers are a terrific popular, but frugal, treat to give away. Tattoos can also be a huge hit! It sounds strange, but a bowl full of pennies will make any kid’s eyes light up. Decide what you can afford to give to each child before your doorbell rings for the first time.

Make The Decision Now – Decide right now that you’re not going to spend a lot of money this year during Halloween. Keep your resolve as you walk through the discount stores and see the multitude of Halloween decorations beaming at you. By keeping it simple, you will provide a memorable and cost-effective Halloween for your family.