Thread: Keeping up with the Jones'...?

Tweet

I just moved into a new house and was already starting to worry about my decorations. At my old house, the place was much smaller so the decorations seemed to pretty much fill the area. Now we pretty much doubled in size so i'm worried it will look empty but i don't have a ton of money to spend, suggestions?

Also, very important: we have now been informed by several neighbors that halloween is a BIG deal in this neighborhood. They said that we will get a minimum of 500 TOT's and sometimes as many as 1000. The other houses supposedly put up lots of intense decorations. Any suggestions for how to make what i have count? I know i won't be able to have as many decorations as the neighbors (being our first year in the new house and on a limited budget for now). So i want to make sure that at least what we do have is good. What's a good way to go? Spread it out so there are at least some decorations everywhere? Or keep it in concentrated areas? Many simple decorations or a few elaborate ones?

Hope you guys can help, thanks!

My advice is to do whatever feels comfortable to you and not worry about trying to outdo anyone else; I know that I certainly wouldn't get any enjoyment out of stressing over how to one-up the rest of the neighborhood, and I'd assume the same holds true for you, as well. Just do your best and I'm sure you'll do a great job

Be glad you moved into a neighborhood where Halloween is popular. You'll be in good company. I agree, put out what you have, make a congruent, attractive display, and the TOT's will love it. You'll no doubt get some great ideas from the neighbors. Another thing to keep in mind is that while someone "said" everyone decorates to the extreme, this might mean pumpkins and sheet ghosts. I think most of us are pretty extreme and my guess is that your decorations will be among the best. I wish my neighborhood would get into it more.

That is awesome you found a neighborhood that is big on halloween. Lots of stuff you can do on the cheap. If you can get ahold of pallets you can build coffins or cross grave stones. Dummies can be made rather cheap as well. Roughly $3 for PVC, $4 for the styrofoam head and hopefully you have a mask and some clothes floating around.

I am sort of in the same boat this year as I decided to expand to a walk through going into the back yard. Worried that I wont have enough stuff so I am pumping out cheap fillers.

Maybe a concentrated area so it doesn't look too thinned out. If you're running out of funds you could always make more homemade props. Although if you get 500-1000 tots you might wanna save the funds for candy!!
Don't worry about the neighbors! Like jdubbya said their idea of all out may not be the same as the all out idea around here. But either way i'm sure your display will be great! Just remember Halloween is your passion, not competition with the neighbors!

I suggest having a "block meeting" with the neighbors...invite them all over (soon) for a BBQ or something and discuss Halloween...

maybe it's possible that they will "share the wealth" of their stuff if you need more or even be able to work together to create a whole neighborhood haunt.

don't worry if you can't contribute tons of decor...maybe you can create posters or flyers to distibute around the town, or you offer to supply some extra candy in exchange for some stuff for your yard.

this could be a really cool way of bringing your neighbors together and be a fun way of getting a housewarming!

keep us posted and share lots of photos, no matter what you do!

Bubbles has a great idea as well as moocheex55. There are several props that you can make for nothing or little to nothing and the suggestion of getting together with the neighbors is a very good idea. Remember, it's supposed to be fun. Enjoy it and don't sweat the small stuff.

Well I have no suggestions any different...however, I agree with everyone that you're super fortunate to have moved into a home with neighbors that love Halloween as much as you do! Yea for you!!! If I move, that's gonna be on my "required" list.

As stated in previous posts, be thankful you moved into a neighborhood that enjoys Halloween. You can use that to your advantage. You don't have to sit there on the night of Halloween waiting and wondering if the people are going to come, you now know they will. Moocheex55 had a great idea in throwing a BBQ for the haunters in your area. You could use this opportunity to see what plans others in the neighborhood have for this coming Halloween. Then you could take your decorations in a different direction. Thus, everyone having something different and something interesting for your visitors.

I'm one of those who get's 500 or more Tot's and I start buying 2 big bags of candy every payday on aug 1st, that way it doesn't hurt so bad, as far as decor, if you're handy and resourseful big props don't have to cost a lot, I'm building a hearse that so far I have less than 40 dollars in.
I'm unfortunatly the only one on my street who does more than put out a pumpkin or an inflateable, I've actually heard from a neighbor that I'm drawing in to many tot's and they can't afford all the candy...pffft!