Thread: Torn at this time of year

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Here it is September....finally...and the regular and seasonal stores are starting to stock their Halloween mdse. I'm always torn because the budget is dwindling and I have a wish list of things I'd like to add to a theme I'm working on and then those "oh wow" items sparkle in your eyes that you weren't anticipating. Do you stay on track with your buying plans or postpone and get side tracked?

How focused are you guys? Do you follow a plan or make a detour?

I have a small list of things I would like to add each year, and really try to stay focused on those particular things. We have a pretty big collection of Halloween props and decor, having been in our house for 25 years. Really don't ned too much so we try to stick to just our theme each year. There has been nothing in any of the regular retail stores that I'm interested in, except I did buy two foam skulls at Michaels to use on other props.. I'm anxious to see what Spirit, Halloween Express, Party City and Factory Card outlet have this year, so am holding off on spending anything until these open up or are stocked. I did buy a zombie mask and hands from Death Studios to make another zombie figure for our graveyard, but other than that, haven't spent anything on Halloween.

Each year I try to set a budget and work in any new additions to my haunt around that budget. Each year the process starts out great then slowly reverses itself, building up steam to do a complete 180 degree turn. I often wind up adjusting my budget this time of year to suit my haunt. Who needs food anyways? Just as long as I have my yummy yummy brains ...... Mmmmm .... brains ......

Then of course there are those items that have no place in your plans for this year but you just know you can use them next year ... somewhere .....

I can often be heard, when roaming the stores, to utter "Budget? We don't need no stinking budget!"

I didn't really have a set budget but I know that I am at the max and need to stop. I found so many good deals during the summer and now that things are starting to come out in stores I am about finished. I hate it too because I am so tempted to pick things up ( like that lighted 18" skull I bought at walgreens yesterday for 20 bucks). I really need to make a list of what I still "need" and stick to it!!

My problem is that I do not come up with a budget. I buy a few small things here and there, but I don't really have any large props because I don't have a great place for my party to be honest. I have either lived with my parents, or lived in a townhouse where I can't really be loud or have a big party. One day when I have my own house, I know that's when it's going to be dangerous for buying too much Halloween stuff.

I think the thing I end up buying the most of is craft supplies and magazines so I can make my own small decorations.

Well I went to spirit to get the John Doe prop. When I got there my mind was completely unmade up. I saw the jumping spider prop and I wanted that too, and so may other cool props! But I got myself together ad got the John doe prop lol

Originally Posted by Ghost of Spookie

Here it is September....finally...and the regular and seasonal stores are starting to stock their Halloween mdse. I'm always torn because the budget is dwindling and I have a wish list of things I'd like to add to a theme I'm working on and then those "oh wow" items sparkle in your eyes that you weren't anticipating. Do you stay on track with your buying plans or postpone and get side tracked?

How focused are you guys? Do you follow a plan or make a detour?

I always think I have a plan, but in reality I don't. I make my plan in Nov the year before and by Jan it gets tabled until "later" so I can prepare for the art fair season [Mar-Oct]. the summer is always super busy between making enough inventory to keep up and trying to make sales so I make money that my Halloween hobby gets ignored until late August when I start getting spare time again. Then I get sidetracked by other work stuff, like the art crawl/open studio day in Sept or Oct, and I end up waiting util the day-after sales to buy stuff and make a new plan. Once the stores have their Halloween stuff out I'll make a couple impulse buys.

Originally Posted by scary1215

Well I went to spirit to get the John Doe prop. When I got there my mind was completely unmade up. I saw the jumping spider prop and I wanted that too, and so may other cool props! But I got myself together ad got the John doe prop lol

Way to stay on track. I would have ended up buying John Doe, the spider, and the other cool props. So no, I don't have a budget. I just buy till hubby hides the credit card. But I do try to strech it out buy starting in Jan. and buying off e-bay. If I buy one prop every month or two it's not as bad as buying 5 in Sept. or Oct.. And there always seems to be something that comes up at last minute, no matter how hard I plan.

I don't really set a budget, but I'm also not seeing much that I absolutely have to have any more.

I do still check the thrift stores for stuff and buy more there than anywhere at this point. The big expensive stuff at the stores are cool, but mostly don't fit in with the rest of my theme, so I really only get stuff to build or modify.

I have a weakness for JoLs tho.

Originally Posted by Frankie's Girl

I don't really set a budget, but I'm also not seeing much that I absolutely have to have any more.

I do still check the thrift stores for stuff and buy more there than anywhere at this point. The big expensive stuff at the stores are cool, but mostly don't fit in with the rest of my theme, so I really only get stuff to build or modify.

That's about the same with me. I do pick up a few little things here and there but the majority of my money goes to party food, costumes, and supplies to make my own items. I also buy at least one craft pumpkin to carve each year.