Get Frugal, but Enjoy Halloween

This Halloween, parents are scared out of their minds.  They're not fearful of things that go bump in the night, but of items that go cha-ching at the cash register.  Between the costumes and the candy, saving on Halloween can be a tall order.  Here are a few tips that can help.

Ironically, the economic debacle that has scared the daylights out of investors is occurring right before Halloween.  Hopefully, the day is fast approaching when we can go back to being scared by the likes of Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolfman instead of Bush, Paulson, and Benanke.

Saving on Halloween

Regardless of what takes place in Washington D.C. and on Wall Street, Americans will be looking for frugal ways to approach the holiday.  You can spend less and have the same amount of fun with these frugal shopping tips:

Do-it-yourself costumes. It's hard to resist buying a costume, especially for kids.  The amount of direct mail and online advertisements for Halloween outfitting is overwhelming.  Many of the pre-made versions are difficult to match in terms of quality and materials.  However, there's a treasure trove of ideas right in your own closet or at your local thrift stores.  Be creative, use your imagination, and build your own outfit.  

Buy online. If you can't resist the temptation of buying a costume, then at least be frugal by shopping online for cheap prices.  The smart move is to buy the costume early, because there will be additional charges for last-minute shipping for last-minute shopping.  Whether you buy online or at a store, shop well in advance. Eleventh hour costume choices may be limited and more expensive.

Buy candy in bulk and with neighbors. Ever notice that on the day after Halloween, you have a ton of candy that you never handed out?  Purchase in bulk for lower costs, but share the expense with your neighbors.  You can divvy up the candy and be certain that you'll have just the right amount of inventory.

Make it at home. If a home-made costume works great, why not make home-made treats?  This might not go over well with some trick-or-treaters, especially those fearful of taking something homemade from a stranger.  But it's a less expensive trick to producing healthier treats.

Timing is everything. Why shop for Halloween items on Halloween?  The best move you can make is to go out and buy next year's decorations on November 1st, when all the prices have been slashed by 50 percent.  You may be burned out on the holiday at that point, but no one gets bummed out when it comes to saving money, especially these days.

As Halloween fast approaches, fearful parents are clinging to their credit cards, scared of the big cash outlays knocking at the door.  Stop trembling and start getting frugal:  Saving on Halloween doesn't have to be a frightful experience.  With a little ingenuity, you can find ways to scrimp on the scariest holiday of them all.