While dressing up for Halloween is fun, we know that the kids really enjoy going from door to door getting bags full of candy and then staying up to try to eat as much of it as possible. When I was growing up, all the kids in the neighborhood knew the good houses to go to on Halloween night. These were the houses where you were given handfuls of name-brand candy.
We also knew the houses we had to avoid: the ones where unidentifiable candy was handed out; the dentist who gave us toothbrushes or carrot sticks; and worst of all, the people who gave us one tiny piece of candy and had no decorations up!
Kids want the fun, the fantasy and the yummy! But there's a reason adults take the cheap way out: It's because even the cheap way out can easily cost $40 or more.
Here are some cost-saving Halloween tips that will make you the hit of the neighborhood without taking a hit in your bank account.
Avoid the grocery stores and drugstores unless you have a coupon that gets you a large bag of candy at a discount. You will end up paying more money for smaller bags. I've gotten caught when looking at the price and seeing $4.99, and thinking to myself what a great deal. But by the time I loaded up my basket with enough to give 10 to 15 kids a few pieces each, the cost was well over $30.
Have you tried glow sticks? They're great for kids of all ages and for those of you who don't want to contribute to the decline of a child's oral hygiene. These can be found at party stores and are even cheaper online. Try orientaltrading.com or even Amazon for great deals. I would suggest going for the smaller sticks to get more bang for your buck. And the best part is you're not tempted to eat any leftover candy.
Check out Costco and Sam's Club for candy, as well as party favors, in bulk. Party favors are great alternatives and are sometimes cheaper than candy.
Both of these stores carry the name-brand candy that children like. I bought a case of 100 sour gum balls (my favorite) for $8.99. Yes, it's a bit more of a hassle than just running into the drugstore, and you do have to have a membership, but trust me, I have a membership to both, and they really do pay for themselves!
Make your house a game stop. When the kids stop by, have them play quick games to earn their candy as a prize. You end up having to give out less candy, and it breaks up the routine for the kids.
My personal favorite is the "wrap the mummy" game. Get the cheapest toilet paper that you can find and a timer. Set the watch for 1 minute, and have the kids turn themselves into a mummy (they can work in teams if they are younger). The person or team that has the best mummy, usually the mummy that's covered the most, wins.
Another fun game is a candy treasure hunt. Hide some candy in your yard, set a timer, and have the kids search for the candy until the timer goes off.
A great website, familyfun.go.com/halloween/ halloween-games/, has fun games for kids.
Remember to be creative. You can modify the games to fit your needs and budget.
Please e-mail us pictures of your creative, cost-efficient costumes. We'd love to see them!
Contact Renita Russell at RenitaFrugal@gmail.com, and co-columnist Nikki Boertman at boertman@commercialappeal.com. Join the conversation on Twitter at twitter.com/fabfrugalca.
Source: http://kwindur.posterous.com/fabulous-frugal-have-a-fun-halloween-for-chea
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