Saving Money this Halloween

Halloween is arriving soon, and there is something out there far scarier than the ghouls and goblins that will be out and about—credit card debt. Don’t let the fear of paying your credit cards haunt you. There are many alternatives to living with this debt, and it’s always a good time to take control of your finances by keeping track of your spending, living within your budget, and paying off your debt. This is far easier said than done; however, there are always ways to control your spending.

Here are some simple and painless ways to save a few dollars here and there:

Look for the best deals on Halloween Candy; you should be able to buy a bag for around two dollars. Generic brand candy is an even more affordable option. The most important thing to remember is that you only need to buy one or two bags. Buying more than that will almost guarantee that you will have that candy sitting around your house for another month or two (in addition to all of the candy your children will bring home from trick-or-treating). Overspending on the amount of candy is a frequent Halloween occurrence, so instead of saying, “Maybe I should get one more bag, just in case,” take that money to the bank.

Make your own costumes. This is a fun activity that allows you to be innovative and can create quality family time. Why show up at a party wearing the same thing as everyone else? Celebrities are always a good source of imitation because you could probably find a suitable costume to wear from your current wardrobe. Also, look for general use items around your home to help you with this task. Finally, buy the trademark flourishes, such as wigs, fangs, or glitter, at your local craft store or Halloween outlet. You could be the standout in the crowd in your custom made outfit! Plus, you could potentially save a minimum of twenty to thirty dollars. Click here for homemade costume ideas: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/57920/homemade_halloween_costumes.html?page=2

Forgo Halloween decorations or simply reuse the ones from last year. By Halloween decorations, I am referring to the paper cutouts, spider webs, mummies, and skeletons etc. people decorate their house and lawn with. The last thing most people need is more decorative artifacts sitting around their house. Besides, you are spending money on items that will sit in a box more than they will be used, or even worse, that will be thrown away soon after the holiday.

A Jack-O’-Lantern on your porch is an affordable decoration that expresses your holiday spirit to all of those trick-or-treaters. I have noticed that pumpkins can range greatly in price, although I have seen them for as low as three dollars. Shop around for the best deal you can find because you could potentially save five to eight dollars on something that will be in the garbage within a week. For a fun and informative pumpkin carving game click here: http://www.liquidgeneration.com/sabotage/pumpkin_carve.asp

Most importantly, create a budget before you even begin to shop for Halloween. If you set your sights on spending less than thirty dollars, then stick with it. Next, calculate how much you would have normally spent, take the difference, and put it in your savings account or towards your credit card debt. Here is a useful article on budgeting for the holidays: http://childcare.about.com/od/generaladvice/tp/holidaybudget.htm

You will soon realize that it’s not what you spend on Halloween, it’s how you spend it! Click here for more great ways to save money: http://www.usfmgroup.com/articles/Financial-Planning-articles/Great-Ways-to-Save-Money.php