In just a few short weeks ghastly ghosts, zombies, witches and vampires will scoop up handfuls of candy as they skulk through malls, city streets and suburban neighborhoods. As creepy as some of those costumes will be, the real fright can be the financial bite.
The National Retail Federation estimates that the average person will spend $74 on Halloween this year, for total Halloween spending estimated at $6.9 billion. But don't let these hair-raising numbers scare you. The money-saving experts at Slickdeals.net offer the following tricks to better treat your wallet this Halloween:
1. Make your pumpkin last longer: No one wants their pumpkin to decompose into something resembling a zombie. If you're planning to carve your pumpkin, there are ways to make it last through the month. Once the pumpkin is gutted, clean out the insides with bleach and water. Let it dry completely before carving. Spreading petroleum jelly on the carved parts should help further preserve your pumpkin.
Avoid setting pumpkins directly on concrete — always place cardboard underneath to help make it last longer. Lastly, head to the pumpkin patch on Halloween night. They'll likely be looking to clear inventory, and you can negotiate a better price for your Thanksgiving pumpkin pie and centerpieces.
2. Recycle costumes: According to the NRF, Americans will spend 3 percent more on Halloween costumes and activities in 2014 with the percentage of shoppers buying costumes at the highest level in more than a decade. Check community center calendars to see if costume swap events are being hosted in your area. If not, organize one of your own with parents at your child's school. One person's witch costume they wore last year is another person's money-saving treasure.
3. Scare up the best possible deal: Whether you're looking for costumes or candy, shopping online is a great way to find additional savings. Slickdeals.net has a community of 9 million active users who are out there scouting the best deal available at any given time. You can search by product or look for coupons from merchants like BuyCostumes.com.
4. Choose treats carefully: Take into account the number of trick or treaters who visited your house last year when selecting candy. Don't overbuy. Not only is this bad for your wallet, it can affect the waistline. Chocolate will also cost you more than hard candies such as Smarties, Nerds, etc.
Lastly, think about buying non-candy treats such as rubber spiders or Halloween erasers. Open these packages only as trick or treaters show up; that way, you can return any unused packages to the store. Also, be on the lookout for candy coupons. You'll find quite a few in Sunday flyers as well as online.
5. Buy accessories; then closet surf for the rest: Many costumes can be created with things that are already in your closet. For example, according to the National Retail Federation, more than 4 million adults will dress up like a witch this year. All you need is a hat; the rest you can use from your existing wardrobe.
6. Secondhand decor: Thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army are a great place to check for decor. You can find actual Halloween decorations and great dishware and bowls that can be painted or "dressed up" for the holiday. Use Pinterest as a source of inspiration for your DIY projects.
7. Shop Halloween clearance sales: The day after Halloween, stores are looking to clear inventory to make room for December holiday sections. This is the perfect time to stock up on decor, costumes and candy. Be sure to check deals online as well, with many clearance prices available on Halloween items as early as a few days prior to the holiday.
Source: Slickdeals: Money-saving Halloween tips
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