Halloween ideas…
Well here we are. The year has gone by so fast I can’t believe that Christmas is right around the corner. This is the time I start thinking of money saving ideas for up coming holidays. I also think about being just a little bit more environmentally sound. I love saving money and helping the environment as well.
Halloween produces lots of trash for our already spilling over landfills. I try to avoid as much trash as possible when handing out both goodies and candy. I also try to think of alternative environmentally safe ways when participating in Halloween. You can apply this method of thought to every holiday throughout the year.
One way is not to shop for your costume. If you happen to have purchased one second hand or maybe found one for free, I guess you’re on your way to a money saving Halloween. Look around your home and closets and try putting a costume together from what you already have or use bits and pieces of last year’s costume. Another idea might be to get together with the neighborhood kids and have a ‘costume trading’ get together. Make it fun by watching scary movies and getting together some simple snacks. You’ll be surprised at what others are willing to get rid of for trade.
Get your school involved setting up a Halloween costume donation box and look through it for needed items or entire costumes. These same rules also apply for adults as well.
Of course, the best way to get the precise costume you really want is to have someone in your family sew it according to your own specifications and size. You’ll still end up spending less, especially if you already own some freaky fabrics.
Instead of purchasing costumes for your kids, let them do some housework or mow a neighbor’s yard and let them pay for their own costumes.
Re-use last year’s decorations. I’ve had the same decorations for years and find new ones at the Church Clothes Closet every year for free. The only thing I might purchase is a big pumpkin and I always make sure to use every last bit of it in different ways. Try making homemade decorations from what you already have sitting around the house or in your closet or have a ‘decoration making’ get together and have everyone bring boxes of scraps that can be turned into interesting things. Try going out in nature for some supplies. We make ‘scary stick people’ out of tree branches and sticks as well as ‘scary faced people’ out of pieces of palm trees.
At times, I’ll even hang the children’s school made Halloween art around the house and on the door. If you hang some on your widows or any place others can see, make sure you child’s name is not visible.
If you live in a small neighborhood or in the country where you may tend to have very few visitors, hand out non-treat items such as used books, natural lip balms(www.beenaturallipbalm.com) , natural art supplies- buy in bulk(www.hazelnutkids.com) , homemade yarn bracelets or even small amounts of money. Make sure you don’t hand out beads or beaded bracelets to children 3 or under. Also, do not hand out treats containing honey to children 1 year or under. One year, our neighbor handed out travel toothpaste and toothbrushes. I thought that was really great. Just make sure weather it’s candy or not, kids are really going to use it or eat it. You don’t want their household to accumulate trash in drawers.
Pencils and pens are also a good idea.
Treats:
Dried fruit
Breakfast bars
Raisin boxes
Purchase candy in bulk and put candies in fabric tied with ribbon, rubber bands or pretty hair ties.
Bake homemade cookies and treats
Make your own candy at home
My basic money saving rules for Halloween are – re use or make your own costume, don’t purchase new decorations unless they’re free, make your own non candy items and finally buy cheap candy in bulk. If you throw a Halloween party, make sure every single guest brings a covered dish, decoration or treats.
And finally, don’t drive. Always walk or use your bicycle if houses are far apart from one another. Carry a flashlight or light body rings and make sure an adult is with you at all times. If you’re a teenager, go in groups. Don’t keep or eat anything that may look suspicious once you get home and check through your bag.
Use pillow- cases, cloth grocery bags or book bags. Use last year’s bag if it’s still in good condition and is appropriately themed. My son always uses a plastic green pumpkin carrier year after year. My daughter uses a pillow -case or plastic grocery bag. Make sure to double or triple up your plastic grocery bags. I think she even used a trash bag one year.
And finally, if your pumpkin meat is still fresh, use it in a pie or homemade cookies. Bake the seeds in the oven and use the shell as a candle porch light cover. If you grow your own food, put the pumpkin in the compost pile.
Be safe and get lots of treats!
Later-g
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