How to save money for Halloween 2021

With little action on Halloween last year, many consumers are excited about celebrating the fun, scary holiday this year. However, with supply chain disruptions and shipping delays, consumers may see empty shelves sooner than Nov. 1.

To get organized and save money for Halloween this year, here are tips from DealNews.com:

Look beyond the Halloween candy displays. Head to the candy aisle and check what other selections in the store have to offer rather than candy in themed wrappers.

Buy candy in bulk. You can find bulk wrapped candy at some stores, warehouse stores, and online.

Hand out preportioned treat bags. Put your wrapped candy in bags so kids don’t take too much when they reach in a bowl.

Check out drugstores for Halloween candy deals. They usually have deals for the scary holiday. Look for their candy coupons, too.

Skip candy. Check the prices for Halloween-themed, packaged snack cakes.

Consider a costume swap. Check with your friends to see if you, and they, could get a new costume for free.

Get costumes the week before Halloween. Prices usually go down then, but this year, you might find the shelves empty.

Make a costume or decorations. You may be able to put something together using items you have around the house. Or, check out arts and crafts stores for deals and coupons.

Give out nonfood treats. The Teal Pumpkin Project suggests putting a teal pumpkin in front of your house to indicate you have nonfood treats to give out for kids with food allergies. Look at party stores and dollar stores for lower prices on nonfood Halloween treats.

Buy items for next year. Decorations are highly discounted on Nov. 1.

Avoid Halloween pop-up stores. The prices tend to be high and it’s difficult to contact them after Halloween if you have a complaint.

Enjoy Halloween this year. Health officials are giving the go-ahead for trick-or-‘treating. However, avoiding large groups or crowded situations is recommended as well as having trick-or-treaters regularly sanitize their hands and wear face masks. Costume masks aren’t a substitute and shouldn’t be worn with a face mask.

Comments

[Jennifer]

All great suggestions. I don't think I ever bought my son a Halloween costume. I had too much fun making them. My favorite was when I make a racecar out of a box, some styrofoam headlights wrapped in tinfoil, and suspenders so he could hold the card up. He had the cutest racing jumpsuit and I made the car around that. Another year he was a knight and I found this metallic material that looked like chain mail and made a vest for him out of it. But for several years, he went as Indiana Jones (he was obsessed) and that meant we got the most use out of a hat, a leather jacket (mine), and a whip.

[Carol Cassara]

I like the nonfood treats idea a lot!

[Rebecca Forstadt Olkowski]

I'm not even going to be home for Halloween but we don't really get trick or treaters here. Still, it's always fun.

[Rita]

Kids are just the greatest. Being obsessed with Indiana Jones for years. I love it.