A Frightfully Inexpensive Halloween

Remember when neighbors gave out apples on Halloween? And all you needed for a costume was an old flowered sheet with eye holes? These days, Halloween is a major affair. Kids (and parents!) are vying to out-treat and out-costume each other. So how can you have a spook-tacular holiday without spooking out your budget?

Well, we have some ideas. (Be warned: this article contains some scary puns!)

Don't be frightened to start early
Beginning on October 31st, all things Halloween go on sale. So think ahead. If your kid is too young to be topical (i.e., she doesn't need to go as Lady GaGa or the latest animated Pixar character), you can find amazing discounts on costumes. This will not only save you money-it will save you the time of sewing, glue gunning and pasting. (This applies to decorations too.)

Terrifying treats
Big-box stores will have great specials on candy when you buy in bulk, but that means you need to plan a little-it's those last-minute trips to the corner stores that put your Halloween budget in hot water. In fact, aim to overbuy so you don't run out early and have to pretend not to be home! You can always bring the leftovers into the office or save them for your next party. You may also want to have a bowl of pennies on hand for kids who still think a few cents is a big deal: just wrap five pennies in a bit of tinfoil and offer it instead of sugar.

Skeletons in your closet
You probably have the makings for a clever costume already. A few gold chains and a scarf can turn a little girl into a scary pirate. That same scarf might work for a hippie. Your flannel gardening shirt and faded "mom" jeans can be rolled up and belted for a scarecrow. Harry Potter's cloak could shroud a vampire this time around. And of course any character can get a zombie update with some lipstick blood and eye shadow eye hollows.

Scary swaps
Resist the urge to purge your closets of past costumes. Financially, it makes much more sense to store them in a box and resurrect them for future generations. Saving old costumes will also give you material for a costume swap. Invite your neighbors and friends with kids over for a glass of blood (i.e., sangria or bloody marys) and a costume exchange. Encourage everyone to bring costumes from past years as well as random clothes that might be repurposed.

Thrifty thrills
Thrift stores are your friend as Halloween looms. Why buy new when you can get it used for a fraction of the price? Check Craigslist, too.

Budget slashers
Craft and parenting magazines come out with Halloween specials that have lots of ideas for how to make your own costumes. But don't waste your Halloween budget paying for the magazines. Visit your local library and read them there, or copy the relevant pages for pennies. And instead of visiting the fabric store for the materials required, stop by the Salvation Army. They may not have the perfect fabric but you can find an old sweatshirt or tablecloth that can be cut up and repurposed. Dollar stores will also have good options for things like accessories, poster board and art supplies.

Decorations from the dead
There's something terrifying about old doll parts. Pick up as many as you can find at thrift stores and half bury them in the yard or hang the heads on the front porch. (They may be so scary you'll keep the trick-or-treaters away ... think how much you'll save on candy!)

Don't waste money on pre-packaged spider webs to weave across your door and bushes. Buy an old bedspread at a thrift store and use the cotton batting to create an authentic (and inexpensive) effect. Stud the webs with black spider cut outs.

To create spooky mood lighting for your front walk, use paper lunch bags cut with jack-o'-lantern faces. Place a bit of sand and a tea light inside, light the candle and line the walkway with creepy shadows.

Cheap thrills
Find free Halloween sound effects by doing a quick Google search. Play them on your porch as trick-or-treaters approach. When your visitors get up the nerve to knock, ask if they'd like an eyeball or bite of brain instead of candy. For the brave souls who agree, offer a black plastic bag so they can grab a handful. A bag filled with olives in gelatin will feel like eyeballs; a bag of spaghetti and gelatin will feel like a squishy brain. EWWWWWW!!!

Halloween is a kids' holiday, even if that kid has kids of her own. Have fun, get creative and treat yourself to a super-spooky night!

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