Win a Leapfrog Tag Reader by submitting your Halloween Money Saving Tips
Thanks to Leapfrog, Classy Mommy has the opportunity to giveaway my daughter's favorite new educational toy - the Leapfrog Tag Reading System. Value $50. And if you read my review of the Leapfrog Tag Reading System, you'll see both my husband and I are huge enthusiasts as well.
And since I covet the Leapfrog Tag Reader like I do, I'm asking my readers to get a little creative with their entries as I'm putting a Halloween spin on this one.
Halloween and the autumn season, cooling temperatures, brilliant foliage, and festive decor that come with it have been my favorite since I was a little girl. I think this stems from the fact that my birthday is the day after Halloween - and as a kid I can remember anticipating my birthday during the Fall as both my birthday and Halloween inched closer and closer.
For your chance to win, please submit your favorite money saving Halloween tips n tricks. Think craft ideas, recipes, decor, or costume inspirations. I can't wait to see you ideas. I will compile a list to share with everyone after the contest ends. You can enter as many comments as you like. Please only put 1 tip per comment. Winner must be a US Resident. All entries must be received by midnight October 1st. Note: include your contact email if it is not visible in your profile - otherwise I can not contact you if you win. Your email will not be used for any other purpose but to notify you if you win!
posted by Classy Mommy at 4:26 PM
Subscribe
My favorite frugal Halloween tips is to bring the family to a farm or orchard, and just take the day to enjoy the animals, pick apples or pumpkins. Bring picnic to save a few bucks!!
Buy your halloween costume a few days after hallowen when they go on clearance. That way they can play dress up all year and when halloween comes around again just have them pick from what you have.
We used cleaned toy buckets (like the kind kids take to the beach) to put candy in while trick-or-treating.
An easy economical costume idea is to add a cape to a regular shirt (like Fliggity shirts). My mother-in-law bought a regular long sleeved shirt, added buttons to the top and then sewed a simple cape with button holes to attach to the shirt. Now my son gets to be a super-hero whenever he wants to. It would be great for a halloween costume too.
wait to buy your costume until a couple days before christmas. they usually they start giving a certain percentage off.
kmart usually has 40% off costumes 2 weeks before
bwalleshauser@yahoo.com
We use printable decorations for Halloween parties. You can find matching invitations, banners, signs, place cards, napkin rings, party hats, and so much more. You can print out the exact number that you need instead of having to buy more or less in the store.
michellerdodson@gmail.com
Frugal tips...
My mother crochets and knits...so I have her make special hats for the boys to wear with appliques!
I buy costumes on Ebay for the boys... I start looking in summer!
We are growing pumpkins in our garden this year. It's our first attempt, but if it works, we'll have lots of fall decor for about a dollars worth of seeds!
We always buy the costumes for the next year after Halloween's been, this saves a lot of money (especially if you have 3 kids). We also re-use our Halloween buckets, we don't buy new ones every year.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
ann dot guns at mac dot com
I have had the same Halloween Candy Baskets for my kids since they were born, I ordered them with their names imprinted and we use them every year, we do the same with their Easter Baskets. This way we never need a new container for Trick or Treating. My daughter has also worn one of my costumes that I used as a little girl. My little baby wear my oldest's costumes. Swapping with friends with kids the same age has worked well too.
Last year, I went to a used book sale and bought books to give away to kids instead of candy. This year, I am collecting broken crayons from people and will melt them down and pour them into candy molds to make new crayons to give out instead of candy.
pinkveganmiso(at)yahoo(dot)com
I try to buy for my grandkids for the following year after Halloween...or any holiday for that matter. I also like to visit the resale or consignment shops. They usually have a good supply and are ready to get rid of them.
I buy my kids costumes the year before.. and on ebay! great money saver!
I nastily yummy halloween recipe!
bake red velvet cupcakes.. let cool cut out an inch hole about half way down into it.. take 1 tsp red rasp or strawberry jam into hole and place a gummy body part such as a gummy eye or finger... replace cut out hole and Ice with purple cream cheese frosting! ;) It will get them every time!
Hi, We have a very paternal Grandma who makes wonderful costumes. I purchase bags of sale candy a month or so before Halloween. My husband just bought 14 bags of nerds and smarties for $20.00. We live in a large subdivision and have many trick or treaters. I like to give out individual bags to each child! I enjoy decorating for Fall/Halloween and I usually purchase items for at least 50% off, if not 75% to 90%.
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
we save up stickers, pencils, boxes of crayons from the beg of school year sales.- you know those 10 cent boxes of crayons...what you don't hand out you can donate to school, shelters or make wax candles out of
buy your costume the year before on clearance or go to thrift stores and buy something that can be cut up- like a prom dress can be made into a beautiful princess costume for a little girl with a nip and a tuck
We shop consignment sales for costumes. You can usually find amazing deals there. Last year we found a Children's Place costume for $4! It saves so much compared to buying brand new ones.
My friend made my 2 year old a apple outfit. She bought 2 pieces of fleece fabric and she sewed them together. She left 2 holes for legs,2 holes for arms,and a head with a slit in the back that we pinned after he got it on. She then glued a green piece of fleece to the top to make the stem. We printed out an apple online and cut it out then glued it to the front. We had a total of 4 dollars and it went through my youngest 2 kids.
Grow your own pumpkins! It makes for a fun project throughout the summer and a sense of accomplishment and Halloween time.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
swap children's costumes with friends, especially if they have more than one child. They might have hand-me-down costume their younger child does not want but your's would.
Request costumes on freecycle.org. I see them starting to be posted on my local group.
I usually start looking for costumes/costume ideas in thrift stores a couple of months before the big Halloween rush.
gkstratos@yahoo.com
Work the drugstore coupon deals to buy candy to hand out. Way cheaper than buying at a discount store or warehouse club!
We always found our Halloween costumes at thrift stores. They have costumes especially for Halloween or you can do seome searching and create a new look.
Our city hosts a Halloween party for families and young children. There is a bonfire cookout, candy treats, music, and best of all it is FREE! This takes the cost out of planning a party - they do it for us!
We grow pumpkins and squash in our garden so we have an abundant supply of Halloween/Thanksgiving decor each year. I hit the back-to-school sales where you can pick up pencils, crayolas, stickers, etc. for just a few pennies and put those together with sticker books, coloring books, notepads and storybooks that I pick up at clearance sales/dollar stores to make goody bags for the neighborhood kids.
Thanks for the chance to win your great giveaway!
proudyaya04 {at} yahoo {dot} com
We spend the trick-or-treat time in our city by doing half passing out candy, and half going to collect. Our preschooler loves to go around the neighborhood a bit, but doesn't end up with too many treats, and we don't go through quite as much candy during the time we're passing out treats either.
beezerly (at) yahoo (dot) com
My frugal Halloween tip is one I'm using this year! My Mom gave me some of my old baby clothing and we're turning the 1970's long dress into a pioneer costume for my toddler! Too cute! Your old baby clothes are today's costumes!
babiesgottahaveit(at)gmail(dot)com
Swap Halloween costumes with friends or fidn them on freecycle.org. Most are used only once and are brand new.
Bhav
bvbabybv at gmail.com
Halloween money saving tip is have a Hollween block party with your neighbors. It's fun, cheap and you get to meet so many of our neighbors that you never have the time to talk to.
Turn off lights so you don't have to give junk candy to kids who don't even live in your neighborhood.
Thrift stores are awesome places to get costumes. You can actually buy Halloween costumes, or you can find things to make your own. Especially for adults, think ~ farmer, 50's girl, prom tight dress/tore up like dead prom girl, etc.
I try to buy everything at the end of the season for the following year. Including trick and treat toys instead of the usual candy items. I have had parents thank me for adding crayons verus candy.
Nora
neneelynn@yahoo.com
Instead of buying pumpkin carving templates search online for free templates and print your own to use.
One costume tip is to reuse a fancy outfit that your child only needed once. If your son needed a tux for a wedding he could wear it to be a secret agent.
Buy all of your haloween decorations the day/week after halloween they are MUCH cheaper then and then you have everything ready for when you decorate the next year! I regularly get awesome prices on decorations every year, we love halloween! The same goes for costumes but it takes a bit more foresight as what your kids like this year they might not like next year.
legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com
Have a hayride in a farmers field. Where all the pumpkins and decorations would be... And serve hot apple cider...oh yum!!
There are many totally free activities in the fall around Halloween time. Check locally for fairs, costumed kids parade, hay rides, pumpkin patches, pony rides, face painting, even the zoo has special low prices on trick or treating AT the zoo! poiotATyahoo.com
Trade costumes for your kids with your friends or family.
All of our costumes have always been homemade, and with a mother who was a fantastic seamstress, they were always fabulous! We also have a family day out at our local farm/produce stand, where the kids can do a hay maze, take tractor rides, and play in the pumpkin patch all for free!
If you want fancy decorations without the price tag, use glitter or glue to decorate your pumpkins, or dress up ones from the dollar store.
Buy a flower or animal hats for yoru baby fror winter and dress him/her in the same color sweatsuit. Then you have an outfit baby can wear all winter and a hat!
No money wasted on costumes!
Favorite bring-to-a-party snack is dirt cupcakes. Make chocolate cupcaked. Put a hole in the center. Frosting around the hole. Add some chocolate sprinkles. And then put a gummy worm in the hole. My kids always enjoyed them.
thanx for the contest.
I bought ceramic pumpkins on sale a few years ago. I use these instead of real pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns. Bonus is they don't rot!
As with any holiday I buy most of my decorations after the holiday has passed.
xxbeccaannxx@gmail.com
i love the freddy kruger costume
My favorite frugal tip, buy Halloween stickers and stuff at 75-90 % off in the days after Halloween. They don't take up much room to store and they are great for the following year for craft projects and decorations. I even give out stickers to trick or treater's and they LOVE it. I love saving a fortune.
It's actually much cheaper to buy the boxes of full-size candy bars in BJ's with one of their own manufacturer's coupons than bags of small candy. Plus, it doesn't look cheap like the small candies people give out.
I save money for all the Holidays by shopping clearance after it is over and saving stuff up for the next year; obviously not edible stuff, but decorations, etc !!
I have read the same comments I would have given. Shop clearance. Plan ahead.
Decorate with making your own crafts and pumpkins! Don't spend too much money on decor that you only use once a year! I'd love to win!
kristilb19@yahoo.com
i thought apple picking was frugal but it cost $34 for 2 bags of apples. i also like to use the pumkin guts on the outside of the pumpkin for gory effects
Buy your halloween costume a few days after hallowen when they go on sale for next year.
Garage sales are a great place to buy costumes.
I give away a package of Kool-Aid with a Bible verse attached.This is a good alternate to the useal candy and the Bible verse lets the children know that Halloween is all in fun!
luvmygranbabys@yahoo.com
Annette Anderson
Shop Target after Halloween. Nov 1 will be 50% off; About the 4th will be 75% off and by the 7th it's 90% off. One year I got a ninja, 2 Bionicles, a "Diva" girl, and a few other costumes for about $7 total. Last year, my daughter used one of the Diva girl parts for her Hannah Montana costume.
Pillow cases make great trick or treat bags.
We like making Salt dough ghosts and origami bats.
We utilize the items in the home including the past year costumes to make it updated.
risanjax@metrocast.net
I love to stop into www.familyfun.com for costume ideas. They are brillant!
ajcmeyerAtgoDOTcom
Shop after the Holiday for your decorations :)
I always bought my kids costumes a few days after halloween for the next year at 75% off an all my decorations for the next year,plates napkins etc.ive never paid full price
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
Rather than buy a basket to go trick-or-treating, use an old pillowcase
I always buy decorations right after the hoilday when they are clearanced out.
I've found great Halloween costumes at thrift stores, that's my tip!
we make our own decorations
Do all your Halloween shopping on a website that has everything you need. We got everything we need for our Halloween party on one website for under $200 & qualified for free shipping!
My friend & I have kids close to the same ages. We buy costumes together, then switch for the next year.
maquel@emmiekate.com
nice!
I buy there costume when they mark them down and then use them the next year!
my fave snack is sweettarts.
Oh, my goodness, I'm so broke, I've got a ton of ideas! I save cardboard boxes to decorate and use for all the holidays. Cut out pumpkins, witch hats, etc. and decorate them with scrap material from crafts or sewing projects. Also, for those materials I can't do without and don't already have, I go to Discount School Supplies (online). I save up a list for several months in advance and normally have a big enough order to get free shipping! Ok, I've said enough! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Enlist your kids in spring and summer to plant and nurture pumpkins. By Halloween they will have all the pumpkins they need for decorating and if they are good little farmers they could even have enough to sell for their own special Halloween treat.
make costumes at home as much as you can.
I'm planning a Halloween party with a friend (which splits costs for us both!) for all the neighbor kids, then we're going trick or treating in a group for safety. To cut down on costs we went through Oriental Trading Co.'s catalog and recreated some of their decor. We turned a box on it's side and cut out foam core poster board (on sale at Michaels for 99 cents) in the shape of a Jack-o-Lantern, painted it and will have a candy toss for some glow in the dark necklaces (we found at Target a while ago on clearance 50 cents for five). It's a prize and a way of tagging our kids to follow them at night!
lkziegler[at]gmail[dot]com
We make popcorn balls to give to our neighbor kids and I also go through my kids' small toys-McDonald's toys, etc. and we give these out to small children who come trick-or-treating to our house instead of candy! They get so excited to be getting a toy instead of more candy and we save some money as well as get rid of some clutter around the house!
- Emily emilyschuster(at)hotmail(dot)com
Old Navy at 10am the morning after halloween. Halloween costumes are like $5!! I buy ahead for the next 3 years. Granted you can only do this when your children are young and are not picky about their costumes!!
buy your costume after halloween for the following year!
bentzmom3@yahoo.com
My money tip. I save custome till next Halloween time then I sell on e-bay. Just sold daughters last year one on ebay for 20.50 so that is budget for this year!
I have three daughters so I just save costumes every year and I always end up getting my moneys' worth out of them!
My mother loves to sew and crotchet so she usually makes their costumes.
barbara_powella@yahoo.com
I buy costumes for my boys that I know they will wear as dressup clothes. That way we get much more use out of them, instead of just one wearing on Halloween.
we use recyclable tote bags for candy bags
I buy halloween costumes for my daughter after halloween when they go on clearance. I just buy them big enough for her to grow into for the next year. I also stumbled on some great costumes at a local thrift store this weekend and they were just a couple of dollars as opposed to $20 at other stores. We also print pumpkin stencils off the internet to help us carve our pumpkins instead of buying expensive stencil kits from the store.
Thanks for the awesome giveaway.
mandysaves@gmail.com
I love to make toys/costumes out of free cardboard boxes (from Costco or any other store). This year my son wanted to be a fire engine, so I cut out a hole for his body and arms to come through, attached ribbon to hang the box from his shoulders, and decorated the box with red, shiny silver, and black paper like a fire engine. Just added some cardboard wheels and a ladder, and it's all done!
We search the dress-up clothes bucket for Halloween costumes. This year, my daughter got both a doctor's kit and scrubs for her birthday in July so she's going to be a doctor in October!
kristenmellis@yahoo.com
My favorite frugal Halloween tip is to look for "used" Halloween costumes at either Goodwill, or even better we got ours at Freecycle in our city & it looked brand new! :) Michelle
sunkistmas[at]gmail[dot]com
I have a bin in our basement full of halloween treat bags, cups and costumes that i purchased after halloween last year. Everything was at least 75-90% off. My kids are young enough they will still let me pick out their contumes. It saves lots of money. And the kids have fun picking something out of the box.
vickers at comcast dot net
Shop on Ebay for a slightly used to new costume. Just make sure you do your homework and price check what price you can buy them new elsewhere, so you don't get ripped off. I've done this each time I've bought one for my son, and I always get a great deal:)
Always buy decorations the year before at 75%-90% off. There is no point at ever paying full price for this stuff it always goes way down. kaismahma at gmail dot com
Make your own costumes out of things you already have. If you must purchase items goto the thrift stores, good will or the salvation army to find your additional pieces. It never hurts to support a charity in the area.
I am in a moms club and we have a yearly costume swap -- so, if you have a costume from last year that your child has outgrown you lend it out and visa versa with another mom who might have one in your childs size. Saves money, time and we make it fun by hosting it with some Halloween baked goods and coffee while the kids play! Fun for all :)
We buy all our decorations and costumes for the next year the day after Halloween when they are substantially discounted.
Use all those free toothbrushes we collect over the year to hand out to the trick or treaters along with a little treat. Last year we gave out over 60 toothbrushes.
kaismahma at gmail dot com
Buying costumes used is a huge money saver. Plus reusing last years trick or treat bags is a huge money saver!
We always base our costumes starting with a basic single colored sweat shirt and pants from either Target or Walmart. The possibilities are endless on what your child can be. Also, they can continue to wear the outfit all fall and winter for dress-up.
Alot of people mentioned to buy costumes at thrift stores, which is a great one which we do. But also to buy trick-or-treat buckets/bags at thrift stores. I have found some really cute ones.
When my kids were small, I would make their costumes. I would use sweatshirts and pants that we could use again for pjs.
Swap costumes with friends and other moms. Pretty much every family has a been of worn once costumes. Get together and trade.
Go to familyfun.com for great craft ideas. Almost everything is made out of things you can find around your house. They have really cute spider decorations made out of egg cartons. So cute!
Great economical halloween snack - Rice krispies treats. Make one batch with cocoa krispies and make one batch with regular rice krispies but put orange food dye in the marshmellows. Voila! Black and orange treat that tastes yummy. decorate with a pack of spider rings from the dollar store. My kids love it!
I love trade costumes with other moms! you always get something new without paying the price.
tcarranco [at] yahoo [dot] com
Use halloween cookies cutters shaped like bats and ghosts to cut their pb & j into spooky shapes!
Using real autumn vegetables and foliage to decorate the house.
tcarranco [at] yahoo [dot] com
Face painting! It's much easier than you think and you can just use normal acrylic paint that you probably already have. No need to spend money on a mask that isn't safe anyway.
Little late for this one, but...
Grow your own pumpkins!
We had a pumpkin vine in our garden this year that gave us 3 pumpkins - one for each of our kids. We had so much fun watching them grow all summer and the kids get the satifaction of knowing they planted and watered and grew their own pumpking. All for less than 99 cents!
Keep it simple and cheap. Kids are excited about the smallest things. As a teacher, we do many stations for our parties. Some of the things we have at different stations are scarecrow relays (where kids dress up in adults clothes-things a scarecrow would wear) and race (they can skip, run backwards, do the wheelbarrow, etc.) Also, bobbing for apples (tie them to a tree instead of putting them in water to keep germs from spreading.) Other stations include fall scavenger hunts and crafts using paper and tools around the house (try familyfun.com for ideas. They are great!) We also watch the peanuts pumpkin movie (found on many tv stations this time of year-or purchase 3 viola meals and the dvd could be yours.) Use brown/white bags to make lantarns for the driveway or side walk for Halloween night (use lights instead of candles.) Lastly, using potatoes as dicuts, paints, and the aid of an adult to make placemates for the table. All in all go back to the basics. Doing the things our parents did when they were young are still exciting to kids today.
Don't eat the candy that you buy to give out to the kids and you save a ton of money!
Buy fake leaves at the craft store to use for decorations and use them year after year!
One tip that I have is to look at the deals before Halloween on candy and use your coupons with them. I bought a ton of candy, and with coupons, got it most of it for free!
Plan with your kids what they're going to ware in advanced. If it's the night before Halloween, you're not out of luck. Before you go out, do a little "shopping" in your home to see what you have. THEN try a thrift store if you can't find everything in your home.
If you are not picky about your costume, wait until the day before or the day of Halloween to buy it. I decided at the last minute to dress up my child for his first Halloween and found an adorable costume for half price at TJMaxx the day before Halloween.
Costumes: Make costumes out of cardboard boxes: Computer, ipod, Sponge Bob, lego, gift, car, train, horse, doll in a box, jack in a box, robot, crayons, traffic light, rubix cube, table w/ head coming out.... There is just so much you can do with a box. Let you imagination go wild!
We always buy Halloween costumes after Halloween. If you wait a week or two you can get the costumes for a few dollars. We pick out the ones we think we might want for next year, then we usually donate this past years costume and any others that I have picked up cheap, to a local teacher for dress up. Preschool teachers and ESE teachers love them.
I buy costumes the week after Halloween for the upcoming year as they are up to 90% off, plus, I print Halloween cards from the Fisher Price website for my children to color (free), plus we re-use decorations from year to year.
I love to make cheesecloth ghosts! The liquid starch is $2 and the cheesecloth is $4 for 6 yards. I make small ones and decorate my house and give them to neighbors, co-workers and family. Great project for kids too! We like to add googley eyes and a bit of ribbon to our spooks as well. Give it a try! Easy, cheap, and fun. They look great too!
You can make fun luminaries with old gallon milk cartons: With a sharpie pen, draw eyes and a mouth on the front of the clean jug. Then cut a small hole in the back (near the bottom) and insert a flameless candle or even a small string of white lights.
my best tip is to buy a costume used. We then use the costumes for dress up all year long.
I rummage my daughter's dress up box, and recombine things to create costumes. This year I cut up some leis and sewed the flowers on an old dress and some worn-out wings, and she's a flower fairy.
jennem22 at yahoo dot com
We give out glow sticks instead of candy. It is way cheaper, better than junk food for the kids and you can buy them in bulk on the internet.
We buy our costumes at the consignment shop. My kids love it and know no difference from Target or Walmart. We always get GREAT deals! Happy Halloween!!
We make our costumes from things around the house. I make little things to hand out with a little candy. This stretches the candy farther and gives the kiddos something after all the sugar is gone :)
Crafts, my kids love to color, so we go on a scavenger hunt for neat shaped leaves that are flat, bring them inside and put them in a book to flatten and dry them more and then we lay them on the table, put a piece of paper over it and we do leaf rubbings!
We also use what we have on hand for costumes, we wear dad's shirts, stuff pillows under your clothes and put a little dirt on your face and you have a bum!
Shannon P.
shayjay13@yahoo.com
After Halloween each year I go and buy costumes on clearance. They get pretty cheap. My kids love to dress up so I let them play with them all year and when Halloween comes around they pick what they want to be from our stockpile! (Laura_Kingsley@cox.net)
Use coupons to buy your Halloween candy. OUr HyVee always puts it on sale a couple of days before Haloween and when you combine their sale with coupons you can hand out candy for CHEAP!
ajmottl1@hotmail.com
Here's a goulish trick for your punch bowl. Fill a rubber glove with juice, tie securely, freeze and voila. You have a mysterious hand keeping your drink cold.
Kris Hickey
sendmyspamto@hotmail.com
Homemade decorations (find by surfing the web) and costumes are my pick this year!
Shopping for Halloween Costumes and Decorations at Goodwill or some other thrift shop saves a bunch of cash! thanks, justicecw@hotmail.com
Shop after Halloween for great deals on EVERYTHING for next year. I even buy candy after Halloween for the next year...just check expiration dates and most are fine for the next year. Or buy things after Halloween that are good for trick or treating that are not perishable at all like little toys for trick or treating!
Ask your sister(s) friend(s) coworker(s) etc to see if they have any costumes that their kids have outgrown that you can borrow for this year. I give my son's old ones to my best friend every year because her son is one year younger than mine son! Works great for her!
I make ghoolish eyes by covering donut holes with white frostng and sticking on a gummy life saver for the iris and a brown M & M for the pupil. I then make them bloodshot by drawing lines with red food coloring with a toothpick. Boys partcularly like these.
Instead of buying Halloween coloring books print out free Halloween coloring pages at
http://raisingourkids.com/hol/halloween/freehalloweencoloringpages.shtml
thanks, justicecw@hotmail.com
Don't buy pumpkins stencil kits...you can get them free online at www.pumpkinmasters.com
thanks, justicecw@hotmail.com
DON'T throw away the pumpkin seeds from your hollowed out pumpkins. Clean them off and bake them in the oven at 300 degress until crisp. Add some salt and it is a perfect halloween snack! thanks, justicecw@hotmail.com
I LOVE halloween!
I hit up the after Halloween sales and buy up clearance Halloween candy to put in Operation Christmas Child Boxes (hard candy only), the kids Christmas stockings and my son's birthday pinata or party treat bags for his January birthday party!
I forgot to leave my email!
heathers - sstein278@earthlink.net
My oldest son was 7 months when he had his first Halloween. We didn't want to spend a lot for his costume so my husband and I decided to improvise. We took his fitted green shirt and made holes on it, then we got some non-toxic green face paint and made him a baby Incredible Hulk. Cheap but he sure had fun Trick or Treating.
Thanks for a chance to win!
chetzky08@yahoo.com
I just sewed 3 easy trick or treat tote bags for my 4yr old and 7mo twins! I used halloween fabric and my son loves them. I can put them away every year and they can become a keepsake for them. Maybe even someday their kids can use them!
my son and I just made a "halloween chain" like you do for christmas but instead we used alternating orange and black construction paper. Our garland is hanging over our doorway and gives a great halloween atomosphere!
I usually stock up on candy after halloween and store them in my freezer to use for anything, like making chocolate desserts. I've also scored on a couple of costumes after halloween and let my daughter play dress up all year long.
I stock up on spider rings hen they are on sale, they are easy to store til next Halloween as giveaways, don't take up alot of space, and doesn't add inches to my waist like other candy giveaways! sarahclubine@hotmail.com
We do a costume swap in our mom's club. Our kids are different ages, so you can always find something that works for your children!
I always buy halloween costumes when they go on clearance and my 2 girls love to use them for dress up with their friends
I get together with a group of friends on Halloween and we pool candy. That way we can give out the good stuff without spending much per person.
RLCGALLOWAYatmsndotcom
We shop at Disney.com after halloween and get 50%+ off, then we stack additional coupons on top for under $10costumes.
maegan
Buy decorations after Halloween for the next year :)
We always have our annual Costume Party after Halloween...that way everyone can purchase their costumes at a discounted price.
instead of candy i give away leftover goodie bag trinkets from my sons bday parties. last year it included glow in the dark spider rings from the oldest's spiderman party
One saving tip of mine is for the halloween candy. A few bags add up quickly in cost it seems. Nestle candy bar has a great coupon right now. So my tip is to keep an eye out for candy coupons, then take advantage of them when the prices get lowered as Halloween gets closer. Have a great Halloween everyone!
Make your kids halloween costume out of felt. Last year, I made my son a stoplight using a yellow felt background, (just sewing two pieces of felt together on 3 sides and cutting a hole for the head) three 8x10 sheets of felt in the following colors: red, green and gold. cut these out in circles and glue onto the front of the costume.
BUY YOUR HALLOWEEN CUSTUMES AND decorations AFTER HALLOWEEN WHEN THEY ARE ON CLEARNCE
A fun, frugal Halloween ACTIVITY tip:
Set up a "haunted house" in your living room - or your bedroom for the kids. We've done this, using blankets on chairs as tunnels, having a few lamps on, but dark enough so they'd get scared. We'd take grapes and peel the skins off of them, put them in bowl and pretend they're "eyes". Play halloween music or let it be quiet- either way they'll get a fright! Very inexpensive and a fun event for the entire family.
Even if I don't win, give it a go... definitely beats trying out those Haunted Houses you pay for.
k.louise7@gmail.com
Buy winte PJ at gymboree after hallooween. Is 50-75% off. U'll be celebrating halloween winter long esp when is time for bed, but is the cheapest n good quality PJ! khong0707 at yahoo dot com
We have a Halloween costume exchange in my neighborhood. There are lots of kids and some costumes can be passed down and around.
I started keeping my kids Halloween costumes after my oldest turned 2. Now we are using them for everyday costumes and soon we will have a huge collection of them for a "trunk" of fun. This also helps when we want to pick costumes each year.
Halloween is our favorite holiday - we usually have a party for our friends and family. My tip is to pick up some decorations on the day of halloween or in the weeks following, to add to our collection of decor. We save money this way, and always have something new for the next year's event!
forgot to leave my email address
windyrburnam@hotmail.com
shop after the holiday for next year - plates, decorations, costumes, etc.
andrewandkristan(at)hotmail(dot)com
For a fun Halloween treat, dip pretzel sticks and marshmallows in green or orange melting chocolate and roll in sprinkles. Tasty, inexpensive and cute!
buy the costumes the year before, or when they go on sale. Grow your own pumpkins, and then roast the pumpkin seeds with salt to have a little Halloween treat while you pass out the candy you bought about a month ago...when the prices were lower.
My mom saved the costumes she made for us when we were little. I have two daughters and they have both worn several of these costumes. It saves me from having to buy one, and it makes my mom feel good!
My mom saved the costumes she made for us when we were little. I have two daughters, and they have both gotten use out of these. It saves me from having to buy one, and it makes my mom feel good!
akingfi at hotmail dot com
Having twins I like to coordianate their costumes so either I shop on E-bay from other multiple mom sellers or search the web for easy to make costume ideas since I am not very good at sewing. I get their goodie bags on clearance after Halloween for the next year. I also put their current costumes on Ebay the day after Halloween.
eat what is left over for dinner till gone. Think of the savings on grocery :)
weblynx at hotmail dot com
I'm a big fan of making your own costumes or making them from what you have on hand. Or shopping second hand.
buy halloween muffin tins and cookie cutters at ross or marshalls. if you have a girl, make your own costume.... like making a tutu. www.plumtickled.typepad.com/plumtickled/2007/08/tutu-tutorial-t.html
I buy costumes at consignment sales! They cost around $2 and the kids are happy and cute! thanks,debbie
debsicola@yahoo.com
You can make a fake beard using cristco and coffee grounds!
Save costumes and re-use them in a few years. I bet your friends won't remember what costume you wore 5 years ago.
Go shopping the day after Halloween for all the bargains to use next year. Except for the candy, that you will have to eat right away! Thanks for the giveaway!
braaisjo at gmail dot com
buy costumes at nce upon a child. great stuff for less.
Harden11408@aol.com
use things that you have to put together a costume.
weused a flower girl dress and some other items we had to make a cinderella costume.
Harden11408@aol.com
We like to reuse parts of our old costumes to make something different and totally cool
cmlittle1 at embarqmail dot com
We park in a well lit area and walk to do our trick-or-treating. We stop to talk to our friends and save on gas.
I save the kids Halloween pictures from year to year and decorate the house with them. The kids love to see their art work from years past.
I have a craft idea that my aunt started a few years back... use about a foot long piece of lint vent, super glue it together, spray paint it orange, pop a stick and leaves on top and you have a cute, cheap fall decoration.
I made a Fall wreath about 12 years ago and I put it out every year. Every couple of years I take something off and add something so that it looks brand new. It has saved me a ton. It has a small pumpkin on it that you can turn around. One side is plain and the other has a pumpkin face on it.
My absolutely BEST suggestion: check out the possibilities of using expanding foam insulation for crafting various things.
You want to use wax paper under it (with lots of room to spare -- it STICKS to anything that touches it, so be careful).
You can make pumpkins with it; you can make monster feet or hands by squirting it around an old blown-out pair of shoes or gloves (stuffed with paper, etc); you can make a leafy hat for a red-hot-chili-pepper costume; you can sculpt really bizarre masks out of it...
Use it as a sculpturable material, and it accepts paint -- latex just colors it, thinner-based paint gives it a "scaly" texture.
PRIMO costume material!!
on gmail, get me with flaredz0ne (that's with a zero)
my tip is to wait until next september to resell your kids' halloween costumes on ebay. we have bought them at the last minute at the disney store on sale, then actually made money the following year selling them just before halloween!
Be creative. We dressed as a cowboy and only had to buy a hat for $1. For a pirate, we cut come old black pants and used a bandana. No cost there.
Hit the thrift stores! Our whole family of four had FULL costumes with a 20 dollar bill!
im.in.luv.with.rey[at]gmail[dot]com
My favorite tip is to have fun making your own costume. If it involves buying material, props etc. I wait until a week or so before Halloween. Why ? Because I've had more than one child change their mind a number of times as to what they wanted their costume to be. Thanks!!
I am almost embarrassed to post this. My saving for Halloween is that my son has been the same thing going on 4 years; he just does not grow very fast! For costumes in the past, we have made what we could and scoured Goodwills for the rest. It actually was a lot of fun with tons of looks, giggles and grimaces at some of the items you can find!
In the past we have made all our own costumes, this year we are going to an organized Halloween swap- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle-- and SAVE!
This year I am making costumes for my kids. My son will be a vampire and my daughter wants to be a witch. I think I can put it all together with things from around the house. aewalls425@hotmail.com
We bought plain canvas totes last year and some fabric paints and decorated our own trick or treat bags that we can re-use each year. It was very inexpensive.
We save money every year because we reuse our candy buckets, don't buy candy because my kids are diabetics, and save on gas by only going to grandparents houses that are less than two miles away. We can't go door to door because of the diabetes. So we save a lot.
ashleyh8584@yahoo.com
I made a flag costume out of a pair of sweats (blue top & red bottoms), some surgical tape and a little white paint. After Halloween I pulled the tape off the pants to wear through winter and the top was OK to wear with the stars painted on it. It was fun, cheap and reusable.
My mother in law always makes their costumes and she makes sure that they can be used as pj's. That way we have another set of pj's and the kids love "dressing up" for bed.
melissa_2842000@yahoo.com
Try waiting until the week of halloween, I found wonderful deals at the stores for Halloween shirts. My kids always have a party at their daycare and they wear the shirts b/c they are not aloud to wear cosumes. I paid half price and picked up some costumes at 2.00 apiece for the dress up trunk.melissa_2842000@yahoo.com
My little man is going to be cookie monster for halloween..wanna know how much his costume was? TWO DOLLARS from toysrus!! Thats right..i buy next years costume a few days after halloween and hope and pray it fits next year! LOL! I also buy a few decorations or adult masks for us or whatever AFTER halloween for the NEXT year!
We have 3 daughters so we only need one costume a year - and that one we usually buy the year before, just after Halloween. We LOVE hand me downs.
I don't really have a frugal tip but I am buying my girls costumes with amazon gc's that I got from doing surveys. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Definately opt for the dollar store for school needs, and let the girls donate half of their goodies to a local food bank or the school front office.ashlyn@chuparkoff.com
I've been wanting to do this for years, but have only done this with a friend or two: get kids together who are around the same age and bring your halloween costumes from previous years (how many do we all have!) and usually someone else has the costume that your child wants to be! Swap or borrow it and you don't have to pay so much $$$ for one night!!! I've always wanted to get a bunch of people to gather and do this, so there would be lots of different costumes to choose from.
We go and pick our own pumpkin, this is much cheaper than a grocery store. I also don't give candy as treats, I order glowsticks, and stickers, and pencils, and give those instead. The kids go crazy for the glowsticks.
purehrt555(at)yahoo(dot)com
Ask your kids for costume ideas! then make them yourself! It's really amazing the things your kids will come up with!
My favorite fall/halloween treat is simple, just mix candy corn and peanuts.
Thanks!
carissaad at aol dot com
I buy clearance at the end of the Halloween season!