A Fun and Frugal Halloween

Don't become frightened at the high costs of the holidays, including upcoming Halloween! If you handle this All Hallows Eve the frugalista way, costumes, decorations and even candy can be very inexpensive. All you need are a few tricks to treat your wallet…

Costumes can be a killer on your finances, but with a little time and effort the best costumes can be made cheaply and even come right out of your own wardrobe. A perfect example is when we took a trip to Ocean State Job Lot. Ashley’s costume was derived in a matter of minutes: delicate, glittery wings for $4.99, white nighty (ooo la la) for $3 and body shimmer for $1.99. Walla! A gorgeous fairy for $10. The matching tights and ballet slippers were already in her closet, waiting at home for free.

Be creative and have fun, frugalista! Sift through your wardrobe and household items and see what brilliant ideas you can come up with. Check out Goodwill and Salvation Army. Reuse costumes from Halloweens past, or ask a family member or friend to borrow theirs. There are so many ideas out there, we’re positive you can come up with something totally free and fabulous!

Now, for the sweet-toothed penny pincher: discount stores offer low prices on generic brand candy that is just as tasty as leading brand names. As always, keep an eye out for coupons and sales for a sweet deal. Another alternative is to buy a box of small plastic sandwich bags and filling them with gum, plastic rings, pencils or other low-cost toys you can buy at your local dollar store.

Another scary situation: after Christmas, Halloween is the most decorated holiday in the United States and is becoming a huge moneymaker. Don't let these retail corporations suck you into highly priced dry-ice cauldrons and shrieking heads: enlist the help from your kids and few inexpensive items. One of our favorites is hanging ghosts: all you need are a box of tissues, cotton balls, yarn and a black marker. Wrap the middle of a single tissue around 2 or 3 cotton balls (this creates the ghost’s head), and tie a piece of yarn around to form the neck. Draw a face with the marker, and hang several of these in your home or outside on a tree. Here’s a picture of what they look like: Frugal, yet spooky, tissue ghosts. Fake spider webs, including the spiders, are also extremely cheap while adding a very creepy effect to wherever you choose!

After the holiday is over, invest in an inexpensive storage container and save all of these items to use next year (leave the rotting pumpkins for the compost). Set aside the haunted hayrides and scary music to spook you on this Halloween and not the investments of costumes or candy.Have a glamorous All Hollow’s Eve, frugalista!