Happy Halloween!

by Katy on October 31, 2014 · 12 comments

Happy Halloween from team Non-Consumer Advocate!

Halloween Illustration

Illustration by the talented Jessica Wolk-Stanley.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }

Emily @ Simple Cheap Mom October 31, 2014 at 12:41 pm

My two year daughter just looked over and really enjoyed your picture! I think she’s actually looking forward to trick or treating this year!

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Katy October 31, 2014 at 12:43 pm

Aww . . . such a cute age!

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Katy October 31, 2014 at 12:43 pm

Happy that I was able to combine coupons and sales to get all our candy for $1.25 per bag.

Happy that an old neighbor gave us an entire bin of tacky Halloween decor items to go on our porch each year.

Happy that we hold onto an old TV/VCR combination to play The Nightmare Before Christmas and Young Frankenstein in the front window all evening long.

Happy to get to see all the neighborhood kids in their creative costumes.

Sad that my kids are too old to trick-or-treat.

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Katie November 3, 2014 at 11:07 am

Halloween movies playing in the front window is such a cool idea!

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Jill October 31, 2014 at 7:51 pm

Jessica is very talented! Has she ever considered a line of rubber stamps?

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Katy October 31, 2014 at 8:10 pm

I know she’s designed rubber stamps as personalized gifts.

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patti November 1, 2014 at 8:44 am

I am happy that we bought a big box of Halloween items at a yard sale about 15 years ago. There are vintage noise makers, creepy candles, ghosts we hang from our trees, a life size plastic skeleton that we put in the yard, and masks and other things. This couple was downsizing and we have used their decorations every year since!!

I am happy that we choose to spend money on Halloween candy (I have a 10 cents a piece rule) and love when the kids say “you have the GOOD candy”. It is funny because I buy bags of all kinds and mix it up and it all goes out evenly – suckers to chocolate, everyone has a favorite.

I love seeing the 700 kids that come up our sidewalk and the vast array of costumes, most homemade and well-thought out. We love to compliment each and every one if we can and see the smiles on their face when they hear something positive.

I am always happy when Halloween is over…

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Katy November 2, 2014 at 11:42 am

We are very lucky that an old neighbor gave us a large bin of Halloween decoration a long time ago. We put out our spooky bats, spiders etc. a few days ahead of time and then take them down afterwards. Takes five minutes, top.

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Barb @ 1SentenceDiary November 3, 2014 at 8:48 am

Patti, did you say SEVEN HUNDRED kids come up your sidewalk? Holy smokes! I thought we had a lot with the 200+ we get each year. 700 is totally out of my league. I think I can understand why you are happy when Halloween is over!

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WilliamB November 1, 2014 at 10:34 am

Halloween is one of my best frugal holidays of the year.
1. I know where my box of decorations is, so I don’t need to buy new.
2. I can leave up some of the decorations by calling them Harvest instead of Halloween. The witches and spider webs must be cleaned and put away, but the scarecrows and pumpkins can wait. The squirrels usually take care of the pumpkins.
3. Individually-wrapped chocolate doesn’t go bad if it’s kept cool, so I plan ahead.

I plan ahead by:
1. Buying decorations on 1 November (if I see some I want), knowing I’ll be able to find them a year later.
2. Having candy on hand from past good deals.

Halloween is extra special to me as a frugal shopper because:
1. It’s the first chance since Easter to stock up on sale candy! This year I even had coupons that didn’t expire 31 Oct.

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Linda November 1, 2014 at 11:17 am

Followed your lead and got 75 pounds of apples. Made applesauce, apple pie filling, and apple butter. Saved all the peels and cores and ran them through my steam juicer for about a gallon of apple juice. Jars and juicer from Goodwill and Tattler reusable canning lids. Frugal all around.

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Katy November 2, 2014 at 11:40 am

Wow, that is super impressive!

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