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Today's Poll!Cost of Halloween Can be Scary
But here are some ideas for having fun on a budget
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Once upon a time Halloween was a pretty inexpensive celebration. But that's changed as the holiday has become a bigger, more popular celebration.
In fact, the seven out of 10 Americans who will celebrate Halloween this year are expecting to spend an average of nearly $80 on costumes, candy and decorating their houses, according to a recent survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF).
The survey shows the typical consumer will spend $28.65 on costumes, $23.56 on decorations and $23.27 on candy. Total consumer spending for this Halloween is expected to reach $8 billion, which is great for retailers but can put a dent in consumers' budgets.
Not a good time
This extra spending comes just before the start of the Christmas shopping season so going overboard at Halloween can easily put families in the hole, just before the start of the most expensive time of year.
Halloween wasn't always an expensive holiday. Instead of buying costumes people made their own. With a little planning and creativity, you and your little ones can win the costume contest using items you have on hand. Here are a few ideas.
Turn a cardboard box into a life-size laptop, TV, or robot. With a few folds of a sheet you can become a shepherd, Roman royalty, or the ever-familiar ghost. Need more costume ideas? The Internet has several Websites with inexpensive and last-minute ideas for everyone from the baby to the family pet. Just search "inexpensive Halloween costumes."
DIY decorations
Do-it-yourself decorations are easy to make too. Pumpkins are plentiful and fairly inexpensive this time of year. It's easy to turn your yard into a graveyard by cutting out cardboard headstones from old boxes, paint them gray, add your favorite saying, attach a stake to the back and place throughout your yard.
Change the color of your porch light to create an eerie glow. Check out lighting stores for inexpensive colored bulbs and blacklights.
Believe it or not, you can even save money on treats. Wait until the last-minute to purchase candy when many retailers will mark down the price. Additionally, kids will get enough treats, so stick to bite-size candy bars that are easier on your wallet.
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