1)  Use it for Christmas.  The candy that doesn’t have Halloween colored wrapper would work well in the kids’ stockings.  No sense in spending money on new candy when you have plenty.  Set some aside for later.

2)  Put out a candy bowl at work.  A little Snickers bar or Reese’s cup helps make the day a little brighter.  Cheer up your co-worker’s day with a little treat.

3)  Put it in your shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  Each year, our family does several shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse.  I usually save our hard candy for the shoeboxes.  Of course, you’ll want to inspect the candy first and pick out the non-perishable stuff.  Put it in a sandwich size ziploc bag and place in the shoebox with your other items.  Don’t forget - collection dates for shoeboxes are this month!

4)  Use the candy in recipes.  I’ve heard of people adding chopped Milky Way bars to their cake batter or making homemade ice cream.  Search the internet and I’m sure you’ll find recipes.

5)  Donate it.  The local food bank could use it as a special treat to put in their food boxes for those in need.  Perhaps your child’s teacher could use it as a special treat or in the prize box.  Some schools have policies against using sweets, so check with the teacher.

What ways can you use the leftover candy?

image (c) Karen Weideman

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Last night we went to the community fall festival.  There were games, vendors, inflatables, candy, horse rides, face painting, and all kinds of fun stuff.  It was all free! 

Last night Alligator Girl wanted to be a ballerina.  She already had the outfit.  Her cousin had recently outgrown it and passed it down.  Alligator Girl was excited to wear it out in public.

Cuddlebug was a baseball player.  We had the hat and shirt and he got the baseball bat last year for Christmas.

Tonight, Alligator Girl was a chef and Cuddlebug was a knight.  I had bought the chef outfit earlier this year from a clearance sale for only $4.  I was going to save it for her for Christmas, but she wanted to be something unique for Halloween, so I went ahead and gave it to her.  She definitely was the only chef around.  I got Cuddlebug’s knight parts at Dollar Tree for $1 each.  I wasn’t sure if he was going to use them for Halloween, but at $3, I couldn’t pass it up.  I knew they’d make cool dress-up clothes.

J’s not legally adopted yet, so I can’t show you pics of him.  The first night he wanted to be a ninja.  I was so thankful that Linette posted these homemade costume ideas because one of them was for a ninja.  Tonight J was a baseball player.

The kids (and adults) had a great time and very little money was spent.  I hope this encourages you know that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun.

Was your Halloween thrifty?

images (c) Karen Weideman

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1)  Stay in groups.  Never go trick-or-treating alone. 

2)  Teach children to never enter a home without prior permission from their parents.

3)  Teach your children to never approach a vehicle unless they have their parent or guardian.

4)  Carry a flashlight or glow stick and wear reflective clothing.

5)  Never go up to a home that is not well lit.

6)  If possible, go with your children.  If not, go in groups or see if your child can tag along with another parent.

7)  Consider attending fall festivals and community events rather than trick-or-treating.  Usually these are more fun because they have games, bounce houses, and other activities.

8)  Teach your children not to eat any treats without permission.  When they get home, check their candy and treats.

9)  If something seems suspicious, report it to the proper persons.

10)  Take a cell phone. 

I don’t mean to be paranoid, but it’s always best to be safe.  What tips can you add to this list?

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Black Knight Costume

Pocahontas

Parents has some cute costume ideas.  You probably have many of the items needed already at home.

• Scuba Diver – uses 2 liter soda bottles, tubing, and goggles
• Beauty Queen
• Basketball Player
• Artist
• Mad Scientist
• Rock Star
• Magician
• Doctor
• Chef
• Zoo Keeper
• Construction Worker

Handmade Costumes – Most of these costume ideas are for smaller children.

• Little Lamb – This one is my favorite. It’s so adorable!
• Dalmation Puppy
• Crazy Caterpillar
• Rooster
• Goldfish

From Better Homes & Gardens

• Mac and Cheese Costume
• Chinese Take Out
• Milky Milk Shake
• Sweet Skunk (so cute!)
• Owl/Wise Guy
• Man at Work
• Woodland Sprite/fairy
• Rock Star
• Swatted Fly
• Spooky Spider
• Spooky Spider
• Cute Bat
• Magic Tree
• Silly Clown
• Grandpa Gus

Were there any costumes that you liked?

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1)  Give less candy.  Kids don’t need all of that sugar anyway.  I’ve even been to some houses that just have a big bowl sitting out on the porch.  Cut back on the amount of candy you give.

2)  Buy in bulk.  If possible, check out deals at warehouse clubs.  Most times the prices are less and they have assortments of candy just for Halloween.  If it’s too much candy, split it with a friend or neighbor.

3)  Consider giving alternate treats.  I like those little bags of pretzels because it gives kids a snack rather than just candy.  In addition to this idea, be on the look out for low prices on small toys, trinkets, stickers, etc.  You can also pick these up on clearance after Halloween this year and save them for next year.  I bought several packages of insects, snakes, etc after Halloween last year for $.25 per pack.

4)  Save candy from other events.  Before Halloween actually comes around, chances are your children have gone to Halloween parties, fall festivals, parades, and other events.  Save the excess candy for your trick-or-treaters.

5)  Stay away from the chocolate.  You can pretty much guarantee that you’ll find great prices on gum, lollipops, and other hard candy.  Chocolate is much more expensive . . . but so tasty! mmmm

What ways do you save on Halloween candy?

Please also check out ways to save on Halloween – Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

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 1)  Utilize available light: Turn off your flash and use a tripod or even the back of a chair to stabilize your camera and use a slow shutter speed to photograph your child by jack- o- lantern or candle light.

2)  Light your child from below: For a really “haunting” photo, have them hold a flashlight below their face pointed up. Under-lighting is sinister and very scary.

3)  Tell a story with your camera: Start with a “still life” that says “Halloween” (a costume box, a jack-o-lantern, an empty trick or treat bag, etc). Next photograph your child before the transition from suburban student to blood dripping vampire. Capture the make up, the costume, the process.

4)  Create a portrait of them in costume as if it were real: A princess on her throne, a cowgirl in front of a barn, or a ghoul in the cemetery. Engage your child in the fantasy.

5)  Photograph the haul! Every child remembers the special Halloween when the mountain of candy was beyond belief. Photograph them close up using a wide angle setting. Fill the frame with candy as well as their joyful expression.

Do you enjoy taking Halloween photos of your children?  Which ones are your favorite?

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Here are some money saving tips to help you enjoy Halloween a little cheaper.

7)  Do it yourself.  There are lots of costumes and decorations that you can make yourself.  I like this idea because it means that your costume will be unique and not like everyone else’s.  Check out this list of 50 do-it-yourself Halloween ideas.

8)  Look online or in magazines for ideas.  Sometimes I have a hard time getting creative but it’s easier with the help of others.  Some of the sites I like visiting for ideas are Family Fun, Better Homes and Gardens, and Martha Stewart.  Family Fun has over 100 costume ideas for kids.

9)  Buy fall decorations rather than ones specifically for Halloween.  Pumpkins, gourds, leaves, scarecrows, and such can be used for both holidays.

10)  Use coupons from craft stores.  Some craft stores have a weekly coupon for 40-50% off one item.  You can use these coupons to get decorations, craft supplies, and costume accessories.

What ways do you save on Halloween?

Stay tuned for more Halloween tips, including ways to save on candy and photo taking tips.  Please check out 10 ways to save on Halloween, Part 1 and Part 2.

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It doesn’t take long for Halloween expenses to add up. Here are some ways to save.

4)  Shop yard sales.  When I moved last year, I had an entire table of holiday decorations.  There were Christmas ornaments and decorations and Halloween costumes.  These unused items frequently turn up at yard sales.

5)  Shop after-season clearance sales.  Of course, it is too early to do this now but when these items go on clearance after Halloween, consider buying some things for next year.  Last year I was able to find some costume accessories for 90% off.

6)  Repurpose an item.  My friend gave me a firefighter costume for my younger son.  It was too big for him but I was able to take the black cape and use it for my older son’s vampire costume.  A simple black cape can go a long way.

What ways do you save on Halloween?

Please stay tuned for part 3 of 10 ways to save on Halloween.  Also, please check out Part 1.

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1)  Check out the selection at close out stores.  One year my husband stopped in a close out store and found Spiderman and Backyardigans costumes for only $5 each.  Those costumes would have cost us at least $40. The kids were thrilled!

2)  Borrow from a friend.  Check with your friends to see if anyone has any costume pieces that you can borrow.  Sometimes you can borrow enough for a whole costume or enough to where you just have to buy a few things.

3)  Purchase unisex costumes for kids.  This was easier when my kids were younger.  One year my daughter dressed in a Disney Pooh Bear costume. Another year she wore a pumpkin costume.  My younger son was able to use both of these costumes when he got older.

Stay tuned for part 2 of ways to save on Halloween.  What ways do you save?

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Take stock: Go through your holiday decor boxes, gift wrap storage, and greeting card you’ve been hanging on to, and make a list of what you already have vs. what you actually need and carry that list with you, in your purse from now on. It’s tempting to buy holiday stuff when you see it on sale (which it will be soon) but it’s a total waste of money to own three or four Halloween banners, 18 rolls of gift wrap,  or six sets of holiday lights.

Communicate with family and friends: You can plan a less material based holiday season if you try, but it helps to have family and friends on board. Set limits on gift costs or decide to have a gift wheel, where one person gets a gift for someone else, but not everyone. Visit Buy Nothing Christmas for tips on how to buy less and make the holidays more meaningful this year. BND advocates note, if a Buy Nothing Christmas is too extreme, try selling your family on, “A Buy Less Christmas. Or a $100 Christmas. Or a Regifting Christmas. Or a Green Christmas. Or a Slow-Down Christmas.” You can apply the buy nothing advice to ANY holiday, not just Christmas BTW.

Make a list: Make a list of holiday gift ideas and plan on finalizing it soon. Then take said list with you shopping to avoid impulse buys. Stick to the list!

Plan to shop online for what you can: People seem to purchase more stuff in stores than online; likely because there’s more temptation involved when you can see and touch stuff for real. See how much you can get online, before heading to the stores. You can also score some sweet deals AND many online stores offer gift wrap for free (or cheap) and will ship directly to the recipient, which save you time and money.

Free up your schedule: If you can make time instead of shopping you can give the gift of time vs. gifts that cost money.

Plan for budget meals: Shopping ahead of time for goods like canned pumpkin, frozen foods, and so on can save you money and you’ll avoid the holiday shopping rush. If you’re holding lots of meals with friends and family plan for who will bring what by October, to avoid folks purchasing the same items twice over.

More holiday budgeting tips coming up soon! Now, tell me some of the ways you’re planning on saving more this holiday season?

[image via Buy Nothing Christmas - get your own free coupons!]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy