Thread: Balancing Halloween and Finances

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Well, I think you have to have money to have a budget, so I guess I'm out of that one. I try to buy things cheap if I can. I go dumpster diving around the neighborhood for wood to make things and reuse nails, screws from one thing to another. Our Goodwill is too far away so I try to hit freecycle or craigslist. I just got into a group deal here and will look at them much more closely now. I'm staying out of the stores like Target. Then I don't do impulse buys. I also start a list of things I "need" for my large upgrade of the year like my masoleum for my new fcg. And a list for my "want". Need comes before want, or the new item doesn't get built and I'm out a new subject for the year. I already bought the fcg rig and fcg for this year. Now I "need" to build the mausoleum so I "need" to buy the materials. So I budget the money for the wood, screws, and foam boards. I will hit the stores the day after Halloween to see what is left and what I can get on sale and use the following year.

For a change I have the money, but I know what I like & want & most stores don't have what I want & like. If it's something I MUST have, I'll get it, because I've been burned too many times before on various things. Unless the store is asking some ridiculous amount of money then I can pass.

I also have the vision to see a dollar store item & know it can better, so I'll buy cheap stuff & change it.

And thanks to this forum & a few other sites, I know there's plenty you can do & make out of free or practically free items.

My big splurge last year was a $50 (on sale half price at Michaels) witch & a $30 (full price) mummy at Target. I saw nothing at Spirit that grabbed me but I went nuts in Goodwill, Dollar Tree & Big Lots.

But really, at the end of the season & in general, it's just stuff. My life won't end if I don't own this bit of Halloween.

Try to start a budget after Halloween and let it grow if thats not working make a change jar and any money you recieve put it in the jar.

You can also try not to go to the stores until after halloween for clearance.

I know how you feel when I am in any store my eyes go directly to the orange and black banners they have for the Halloween sections of the store.

(Also try not to wander around, I was fine untill I started walking around and saw the display for the Halmark store. It was all over after that)

Another key if you find something you really want, look on amazon or somewhere else, you could find it cheaper. (Also do some research on here because what you want might not be all that great)

Originally Posted by clowns_eat_people

Another key if you find something you really want, look on amazon or somewhere else, you could find it cheaper. (Also do some research on here because what you want might not be all that great)

THIS. SO. MUCH!!

So many things just don't live up to the hype & price & this place helps with that A LOT!!

Well I'm running out of room to put stuff so that helps?

I am a frugal shopper and garage sale for most items for the haunt. The key is to not reach for the plastic. I shredded credit cards years ago and that whole you have to spend credit to get a high credit score has never hurt me. I own a house and have no issue getting a line of credit if needed. The trick is to have cash on hand and if the cash is not there then the purchase doesnt happen.

Wise words I once heard from my Grandpa "The key is not to own every toy in the world....its just to play with them for awhile and move to the next." He like myself was a buyer/seller of anything and everything he wanted

I'm another who goes the clearance route most times, using coupons and going near or after Halloween to get the goodies. There are lots of things that I would love to own, but one has to be realistic, especially without a job. This year, so far, it's been Lakeside Collection (nearly 1/3 the price of other places) and Dollar Tree (beyond cheap). I've got to pick up a couple of those dummies from Walmart, but, other than them, I'm going to attempt to control myself (wish me luck...).

I agree so much with the after Halloween clearance shopping. Sure, it sucks to not have it on display at your house for THIS Halloween, but next Halloween when you open all of the brand new stuff from last year's clearance shopping, it's like Christmas. LOL

It's amazing the cool stuff you can get on clearance. A few years ago Walgreens had this awesome skull hanging on a rope that plays the Halloween theme and has a motion detector. Well, for $20, I just couldn't buy it. I don't have that kind of money. lol
A few days after Halloween it was only $2.75 and of course I got it then. Love it.

Last year Target had those animated candy dishes (that grab your hand) for $2.66 (originally like $15-$20)

Clearance shopping is the way to go!