Thread: Balancing Halloween and Finances

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I have a problem. Every time I see something that resembles Halloween I am almost compelled to buy it. Of course I have my cash budget but now that Halloween items are getting to be more stocked in stores I am having a hard time not reaching for the plastic.

I go to the thrift stores every other day and am always checking Craigslist. I tend to go into stores to check if there's Halloween stuff out. I find it is becoming a obsession. Now that would be fine if I had unlimited space and funds. I DO NOT.

For those who may have this problem or have dealt with it, what do you do? What's your game plan?

I'd rather not be an episode of hoarder "Halloween Edition."

I'm a huge cheapskate so I force myself to either buy things with coupons if I really want them, or better yet, wait until clearance so I can buy many things at once. I always plan on using clearance to make next year's props with. At the very least, if it's a store like Target or Kmart I wait to see if there's a "sale on all moving props" or "sale on lights" week by week. Use http://www.slickdeals.net and http://www.retailmenot.com for both sales and coupons... I used to use Fat Wallet but slickdeals always seems to find better deals...

I only break this rule if I think something's going to vanish. I can never tell what's going to be around or not though. I was worried that the Gemmy Light Show would be gone before clearance but Target had stacks of them left. I knew the Target Mummy would be gone before clearance so I was waiting for at least a sale price on it but they all vanished before that. Oh well.

Just like with anything big I do, I have to spread it out.

I've been picking up stuff here and there (and hiding it, because the hubster doesn't understand. ). For me it's easier to work more into the budget if I get little pieces, instead of dropping $400 on October 1st. I even do it with party supplies, like liquor. I've got like 10 bottles of alcohol hidden in my dresser, but that's because unannounced family will show up and drink it all before I even get home.

But my best deterrent is not going out. My grocery doesn't have anything Halloween currently and that's really the only place I need to go. I will hit up Goodwill every other weekend on 50% off days, and ONLY then, because their prices have gotten ridiculous lately.

I really want to see what Dollar Tree has, but I just don't go. Ross is right next door, Target and Kohl's too. And while I'm at it, I'll go a mile down the street and check WalMart, Michaels and Party City. Then JoAnn's, Marshals and HomeGoods. It's a downhill spiral. I don't know what your city is like, but try and get all your errands done on one day and just don't put yourself into the path of that temptation. Or maybe if you do go, only take a small amount of cash with you and no cards. If you don't have the cash, you just can't buy it.

Good luck! I know your pain.

In order to have money to spend for Halloween things this year, we started a piggy bank last year. And I got some gift cards as presents through the year and I saved them for Halloween. I taped them to the bottom of the piggy bank, actually. So they are out of sight and a welcome surprise when we bust open the piggy bank.

As for trying to limit myself on buying Halloween related anything...I haven't figured that one out yet! I've been much more frugal with other things this past year. But for Halloween, I can't help myself.

i too have the same problem. i saw a deal on craigslist for over 1000 dollars worth of halloween items for 450 and i started to scramble to find the cash for it. the wife is like "you dont see this as a problem" well yeah but i can not help myself

Oh yes. This is a heartbreaking struggle. I basically buy cheap things and paint and modify them to make them look less cheap. If I REALLY want something pricey, I go ahead and get it, but I like I said, I mostly stick to the cheap stuff.

I also have a budget......college will do that to you. I try to make most of what I have plus it is more fun and rewarding. The brain is always thinking. The only things I buy are the prop heads and clothes at goodwill or something I have at home. I am bummed that we are not having a party this year but putting the money towards our vacation by my request. Only have one more year left as my son will be a senior this fall so I can see the light at the end of that tution tunnel and it is nice! Then I can splurge a bit! It is easier to get things on clearance and using coupons and your imagination and being creative and the dollar stores also help. So there are ways to avoid that plastic card and still have a great haunt to be proud of.

Try to find limits., space and money wise.
I still keep getting some good halloween stuff (keep finding some good deals), even I did ran out of space in the house, and now, my garage is now filling with Halloween stuff (doh!). I plan to sell quite a few boxes of unwanted Halloween stuff, after going throught my collection this year in September and try to shrink it a bit.

I will try hard to limit my spending too, since I have already so much crap, if I get something, I really need ask myself do I need it, where would it go, and does it need a plug, since I have so much stuff to plug in, scared to fry my breakers.

good luck!

I have to limit myself as we don't have a garage or a basement, so I'm limited where to store stuff. Everything I store has to be lugged into a crawl space & who wants to do that? I did manage to find some things from Oriental Trading and found an online coupon for free shipping & $5 off - everything I got was on clearance. I try to buy mostly everything from clearance sales...

Originally Posted by RunawayOctober

Just like with anything big I do, I have to spread it out.

I've been picking up stuff here and there (and hiding it, because the hubster doesn't understand. ). For me it's easier to work more into the budget if I get little pieces, instead of dropping $400 on October 1st. I even do it with party supplies, like liquor. I've got like 10 bottles of alcohol hidden in my dresser, but that's because unannounced family will show up and drink it all before I even get home.

But my best deterrent is not going out. My grocery doesn't have anything Halloween currently and that's really the only place I need to go. I will hit up Goodwill every other weekend on 50% off days, and ONLY then, because their prices have gotten ridiculous lately.

I really want to see what Dollar Tree has, but I just don't go. Ross is right next door, Target and Kohl's too. And while I'm at it, I'll go a mile down the street and check WalMart, Michaels and Party City. Then JoAnn's, Marshals and HomeGoods. It's a downhill spiral. I don't know what your city is like, but try and get all your errands done on one day and just don't put yourself into the path of that temptation. Or maybe if you do go, only take a small amount of cash with you and no cards. If you don't have the cash, you just can't buy it.

Good luck! I know your pain.

This is exactly how I handle it!! I know once I step foot in those places it's all over! LOL I have a mental picture of how I want things to look for my party and just try to stick to the list.