Retailers love Halloween. Kids love Halloween, but what about
parents? With early preparation and frugal shopping, Halloween can be
a relaxing holiday and a wonderful opportunity for families to spend
quality time together. An online poll at Halloween Magazine shows
that Moms are spending anywhere from $50 - $250 yearly buying
costumes and decorating the house. How can you enjoy a freaky
Halloween and still be frugal?
COSTUMES
Be creative and involve the whole family. Start by looking
at your resources and work with what you have. Jan in Mapleton, Utah
used her resources by dressing her children in her husband's UPS
uniforms from work. The parents were the packages wearing big boxes
with "handle with care" and "fragile" stickers. They were the hit of
the neighborhood!
Since I have small children I try to purchase or make costumes that
can be used for other purposes like Princess themed birthday parties
or use storybook characters for school dress-up days, etc.
Remember to check out online auctions and goodwill stores for costume
ideas. Clearance Sales are my favorite.
Partysupermarket.com is an online store that gathers
clearance items from several stores around the country and sells
online for $4.99!
FRUGAL DECORATIONS
Carve an Amazing "Graveside Manner" Pumpkin jack-o-
lantern using the FREE pattern found at:
http://www.pumpkinmasters.com/freepattern.html
Try dressing up a scarecrow and have it up a few days prior to
Halloween so the whole neighborhood gets used to seeing him as a
fixture and then substitute a real person dressed as a scarecrow
Halloween night!
Another cheap trick - Dig up small shovels of grass, then remove and
saves a little of the dirt throughout the yard. Next fill the empty
holes with grocery bags and puts the sod back on top. When Trick or
Treater's walk on it they feel like the ground is moving!
TRICK-OR-TREAT BUCKET
Save your 1-Gallon plastic ice-cream buckets,
let the kids decorate them with markers or with adult help paint on
eyes with glow in the dark paint!
The best way to enjoy a frugal and freaky holiday is to Plan Ahead,
be Creative and look for unusual resources as an alternative to
spending money!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rachel Webb is a SAHM of 4 and designs decorative
large Magnetic Fridge Calendars. Her calendars are made entirely out
of heavy duty magnet, guaranteed not to slide off when the kids slam
the fridge door! PERFECT Christmas Gift Idea! Visit her site:
http://www.Note-Ables.com or e-mail: Rachel@Note-ables.com .
if you have any questions or comments!