Frugal Halloween Candy for Trick-or-Treaters
My husband and I are lucky to get lots of trick-or-treaters, which is fantastic as I love the creativity and sugar fueled enthusiasm. Of course, those treats don't come free. Back in the heyday of couponing, I'd match store sales with double coupons for almost free candy, but those days are sadly long gone.
I switched over to buying Hi-Chew candy a couple years ago, as A. they're cheap at Costco, B. the kids really like them, and C. They don't appeal to my 57-year-old palate, so I'm 0.0% tempted to break into them.
My plan this year was to repeat this plan, as there's no reason to reinvent the wheel, but I stopped into Dollar Tree, ostensibly for reading glasses and came across a shopping cart filled with Takis, priced at 25¢ apiece. I know that middle schoolers love these spicy snacks, so I grabbed all 23 of them. Again, not appealing to me, but I'm not their target audience. Total spent -- $5.75.
Afterwards I stopped into my favorite dented vegetable store (Everyday Deals on S.E. 82nd Avenue) and came across this huge box of random candy, priced at $2/lb. My eye landed on multiple mesh bags of gelt (chocolate coins) so I sorted through the box to find as many as possible. Total spent -- $5.48 on maybe 25 bags.
Thats an excellent selection you ended up with and the kids will love the variety. Most people seem to buy the same two variety packs from Costco (and I get why, it’s a great price!) and then it’s the same candy being given away at every house. It’s nice to mix it up, and especially for a good price.
We get a ton of trick or treaters as well. We also get the hi-chews and large boxes of blow pops and airheads (from Costco business center) which all seem to go over very well. My husband did also buy a box of Reese peanut butter cups from Costco, which he’s been steadily eating every night… A bit of a frugal fail there!
Candy is expensive for us. We are empty-nesters, and when our two kids were little and trick-or-treated, they got a ton of candy in the neighborhood. But we live on a cul-de-sac and people tend to forget we’re here. So we always got very few trick-or-treaters. This year I swore off Halloween and buying expensive candy. But I caved because 1) I love Halloween and 2) I wanted to put out my few Halloween porch decorations. So I spent $10 on two bags of Snickers and M&Ms.
Chocolate prices are up significantly, and bags have shrink-flated here. Less chocolate in the assortment packages as well.
I ordered Halloween pencils and tiny notebooks last year and plan to give them away for years until they are gone. I like the little kids the best and they usually come early in the evening, so I don't have my light on for long, if anyone comes at all.
Pencils are great, esp. because low-income households may not have a lot of $ for school supplies. Many such families have several kids and are having difficulties furnishing even the basics. It's been at least 6 weeks, in most cases, since the start of school, and most pencils are now down to nubs. Teachers can't buy every student a pencil, so it'd help if all the kids brought in new ones right about now.
PS -- Thinking ahead: If you're doing Xmas stockings/gifts for low-income kids, replenishing such school items as pencils, erasers and crayons would also be great. Ditto, warm socks and gloves.
I also like to watch for bagged candy, often weeks or even months before Halloween. My daughter watches for me, too. She works in a shopping center that has a "dented vegetable" store in it and often comes across close-out candy. A month or so ago she found bags of Payday bars for $1.88 for a bag of 16. She bought up 6 bags. Earlier I had come across snack size bags of dried cranberries for 10 cents and I stocked up on those with Halloween and the winter holidays in mind. I've already started baking with them, as well as a little snacking. Those are my Halloween treats and I won't mind at all if I have some leftovers.
Candy is very expensive here it’s shockingly expensive actually if you go to the regular grocery store. For 125 pieces of the tiniest bite of candy is $29.99. Ridiculous. We went to Costco and bought two boxes of full-size candy bars. I’m not even sure how much they cost anymore but it was very reasonable and I will never not do that. Nothing beats what we did last year though my husband was able to find for $3.49 a giant bucket of Reese‘s peanut butter cups, hundreds of them, and we purchased four buckets. We were able to give handfuls of the stuff out to all the kids, and he brought the rest with him to work, which made all of those people very happy.
I found the assorted fun size candy in the "Halloween" decorated /marketed bags to be pricey....but, as a frugal gal I always look outside the trick or treat bag so to speak --- if you just buy the regular everyday bags of fun sized candies on sale, it's a decent deal, especially when checking drugstore sales and combine with coupons! And, I have noticed more and more that small bags of salty snacks (chips, pretzels, etc) are now the new go to Halloween treat - so you are right on trend with the bargain Taki's Katy!
Happy to be trendy!
This year I spent about $10 at Aldi on a big bag of 68 Tootsie Pops. These were a request from our adorable neighbor girls. Last year was our first Halloween in this house and we spent closer to $20 and had 25 kids. That was lower than normal here, but the weather was crappy and may have affected turnout. Luckily my husband and I don't like Tootsie Pops so no temptation there.
I'm not a fan of lollipops either.
The past few years I've bought the 90 ounce bags of chocolate variety candy at Costco. This year it was more than the $20 it was in previous years except it was "on sale" for just under $20 the last time I was in there. I have not opened the bags yet but know I'll be sampling to the Reese's and the peanut m & ms by Friday morning.
There's a reason why I don't buy Reese's peanut butter cups!
We went to sam's club and saw that a 40-pack of ghoulaid (koolaid's juice box branded for halloween) was $7. So we got two of those. And likely I'll pick up something extra just in case we get more than 80 this year. we get cash back on the sam's club purchases, so figure it's not a bad investment!
I'm scheduled to work on Halloween, so I will block off my porch but have a sign telling the "spooks" to go to my church's Trunk or Treat, right around the corner.
However, this and every year, I collect bit by bit, samples of candy. My bank has buckets of candy out for the customers and every time I go in to make a deposit, etc., I grab a few pieces. Some fast food and pizza places give you some pieces of peppermint with your check. I take those home. And so on....
I may pop one or two pieces of candy in my mouth, but the rest go into my candy bucket in the cupboard. At Halloween, this becomes my treats, and if there are any left over, they're used for Christmas or whatever.
I donated my cache + a bag I bought at Ollie's Outlet (using my 10% off coupon, when I got other items last summer) to the church Trunk or Treat.
On Nov. 1, I may grab some big bags of half-off candy (or even better, 75% or 90% off) and store them for next October if they are Halloween-themed, or use 'em on other occasions if they're not. I also do this for post-Christmas sales, using the non-holiday themed items for whenever and whatever, providing the discount is high enough.
Per the Tightwad Gazette, I used to buy red- and green-covered Hershey's Kisses post Yuletide season and separate them. The reds were used for Valentine's and the greens for St. Patrick's Day. However, in recent years, it appears that the stores and Hershey's are on to us, and I'm not finding the good deals on this product anymore. So that's gone by the wayside.
When Mom and Grandma were alive, I'd get chocolates on sale after Valentine's, the ones that were NOT in heart-shaped boxes, and give them on Mother's Day.
This is also a good hack for perfume, cologne, fancy toiletries and such -- non-perishable stuff that goes on sale after Christmas, Valentine's, and/or graduation/Mother's Day (or Father's Day, for men's cologne) -- and use them for birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
Other good places to get free candies during the year are job fairs, health fairs, home and garden shows, county or state fairs, exhibitions, senior citizen fairs, tables at malls or stores where they're giving out literature, etc. (One caveat: If you actually want to make a good impression and get hired when you attend a job fair, be discreet and don't take too much from any one booth.) I recently attended a senior fair and grabbed handfuls of candy, along with other freebies -- shopping bags, notepads, calendars, magnets, jar openers, pens, cups, etc. Of course, I feigned interest in each business -- they don't have to know their brochures were put in the recycling bin once I hit home.
I'd snack on them long before Halloween.
I just finished my stash of "valentines" themed Hershey kisses in August! I stocked up on 3 bags when they were on clearance for a dollar!! Chocolate is chocolate - I don't care about the wrapping...though these were wrapped in cute Peanuts theme and did make me smile! I'll be restocking my stash on Saturday with some Halloween themed chocolate!
Kids don't care about packaging either.
I remember that Tightwad Gazette tip!
We have never had trick or treaters, so we donate to the backpack program at the area kids schools. This year I got 2 cases of Swedish fish in theater size boxes for $7 ea. I also picked up mac & cheese, meat sticks and Protein bars.
I did find 2 buckets of Reeses mini cups to hand out at the church's barn party. We have a hay bale maze where we set up fun activities where they win candy prizes.
We get zero trick or treaters, as I am on a dark busy road, the house is set back a long way, and I have a grand total of one close neighbour. I am a sucker for candy if it is in the the house so I avoid buying it. However, the whole fam damily is going away for 3 nights over Halowe'en, and it is a time of glorious noshing. I found some full sized chocolate bars for $0.77 each and have picked up a bunch (after sampling and deciding they were quite delish). I also got a box of mixed mini bars. those will disappear in a moment if I know my DOL and son. Better than me!
I have a list of frugal that I have been adding to so apologies for an even longer post:
1. Made potato leek soup with broth made from carcasses – found a new to me recipe that called for prunes (!!) and I used some of my home-dried prune plums. Yum. That's the second time I have used the home dried prune plums in a recipe this week (and only the third time in my life I have cooked with prunes), I know the flavour isn't what purchased prunes would give to the dishes, however I love the sweet tartness they have brought. Who knew? Now I can't give #1 son all the dried prune plums for Christmas, since I kind of like learning how to add them to recipes.
2. My thrift store buddy found me 4 sweet small blue homemade fish-shaped plates, and was delighted to buy them for me. She also got one of those ceramic style baking sheets (almost unused) and a totally ME short sleeved cowl tunic (with POCKETS!) I am paying for us to go to a movie later this week. We usually come out even (and I hand her a few bucks when I feel the tally is off) and she gets the joy of doing a tiny bit of shopping as she does her volunteer sorting at the store.
3. Grandbaby is needing to practice time away from mom and dad. Good thing crying doesn't drive me crazy! They dropped him off for a few hours so they could go help a friend empty boxes in his new home.
With his mom going back to work in January, we have been talking about a bit of a schedule for the days/times he will be with me. However just today my Daughter Outlaw found a daycare that will take him (following a nice slow on-ramp process) starting mid-November!
This daycare is one of the $10/day daycares that the Canadian Government is trying to make available to most parents. There aren't enough spaces, so we are all feeling lucky to find space in a daycare really close to their home. Due to the fact grandbaby is under a particular age, they will be paying $13/day for the first while, but that is half of what I paid for his father, 34 years ago!
The two-month onboarding process will be easier for baby and for my DOL. She is still recovering from her back surgery and now needs to get into shape, attend physio, and start getting ready to onboard herself back to work.
4. I got the grandbaby for two more 'trial' sessions – the first one also included my DOL for a bit, as she is finding the process of letting him out in the world kind of hard on her heart. I gave her an ear, and a cup of coffee, and she eventually did leave to do “whatever her heart desired”. I am working on helping her reduce the guilt she feels when the baby is with someone else, so that she CAN do what she wants/needs/desires to do. Soon enough she will be dropping him off and going to work (her back is still needing recovery time from her surgery so no work until January).
Most of my baby time has been spent outdoors. He is just getting walking figured out, so there is a lot of abrupt sitting. My place is perfect for learning to be more sturdy – the ground isn't really even, but the grass is soft. I have yet to need any kind of 'toys' to entertain him: rocks and sticks and the animals have been plenty fascinating. As for myself, I am practicing my 'be here now' meditations while hanging with him: there is nothing more important, even though my busy brain sometimes thinks I should be being more productive.
5. At my favourite thrift store I found a nicely priced bookshelf, which I hauled home in my handy-dandy Toyota Matrix (the best hauling 'car' I know). I have been wanting to totally re-jig my bedroom and the bookshelf was the keystone.
Using a lot of creative Tetris and Jenga (my bedroom is TINY) I swung my bed (and bedside table) around to the other wall, moved one large chair into a different corner, another smaller chair to another corner, got the bookshelf moved in (thanks roommate!), wiped up a lot of spider webs and did a bit of under-bed vacuuming, and now have a plan to cut the curtains to a more appropriate length and sew up hems, as well as finish the tidy.
I have been keeping that room fairly well up (Like, nothing on the chairs!), however the last month or so things have fallen down. Nothing like a good re-arrange to give life to my tidying-energy!
6. Discovered the bananas still in the running dehydrator. Oops! I have created crunchy dehydrated banana candy – actually quite addictive, so I need to be disciplined in ensuring I only take a “banana's worth” when I eat some.
7. Took a small and curated stack of books to the used bookstore for credit (the credit can be applied to any books we purchase, reducing their costs by half). Some of the books were from my Thrifting buddy, who gave me a HUGE stack of cookbooks. I am culling those, and only keeping what I will really use; the bookstore will get the ones in saleable condition and the little free libraries might also see some kitchen inspiration.
We are only permitted to drop off 12 books at a time, so I am being judicious as I am culling so that I take the owner what she will quickly sell. This makes her happy to see me!
Hmm . . . my sister left some prunes behind and I haven't known what to do with them.
the Chicken Marbella that someone wrote about here (they were going to have for thanksgiving... then got sick so froze the prepared meal?) called for prunes. Which is where I first realized that my dehydrated prune plums are ... prunes.
I made the chicken Marbella! You could also make clafoutis.
@ BettafromdaVille oh, oh dear, another joyously easy and delicious option for me to explore? yay? I think?
Prunes split open and spread with peanut butter are a good snack.
Katy, have you ever made tzimmes? That's what I usually use prunes for. If you don't mind keeping the prunes for awhile. tzimmes can be a good side dish during Hanukkah.
A few months ago, Ocean State Job Lot had bags of "fun size" Swedish fish and Sour Patch Kids candy on their "free food" rack (if you spend $10 or more, you get a gift certificate back in the same amount). I bought 2 bags and put away for Halloween. They are slightly past their "best by" dates, but trust me - I've been sampling them for the last couple of weeks and they are still "best," so I am entirely comfortable handing them out. So: free Halloween candy. I am thankful, as I see the cost in the stores; it is CRAZY!
So smart to think ahead!
Halloween is a growing but still limited event in Australia. I buy a single bag of 12 mini M&Ms for $3.50 (which is half price - this should tell you the cost of candy - which we call lollies here).
I highly doubt we will go through it. The fact that we have a large front staircase does disincentivise trick or treaters.
Oh no, you'll have to eat the candy yourself! 😉
Well, I fell off the frugal bandwagon, but I'm trying to get back on and hang on tighter.
The bras I have I've had for probably 6-7 years. They're stretched to the point that it's pointless to even wear one. Hard to find one for my girth (52" band). I found some online (NOT on Amazon) for 50% off and bit the bullet and bought 2. I have more bras to replace, but I wasn't about to buy a bunch that maybe didn't fit or that maybe I didn't like. They came in the mail yesterday and they're good. I just have to get used to wearing a proper bra again.
DH has the sinus crud and his voice is hoarse. He was going to cook chicken on the grill, but I told him I would do it on the stove. Filleted one boneless, skinless chicken breast, then cut each piece in half to make 4 servings. These were from "well endowed" chickens as the breasts were a DDDD cup at minimum. Used up the last of a bottle of spicy orange glaze on the chicken, mixed up a box of scalloped potatoes that I got 50% off (damaged cart), and a can of green beans we got from the food bank. I prefer au gratin potatoes, so I threw some grated sharp cheddar in with the potatoes (should have put in another handful) and put butter and a touch of honey on the green beans. I made some brownies the other day, so that's dessert. Last night, DH made iced tea with tea bags we already had. DH wants me to make macaroni and cheese, but that won't happen until the weekend at least.
Saw some chairs on a curb that I thought looked like they would be good to replace the rickety, poorly built, pine chairs we have at our kitchen table. (No, they can't be repaired - we've tried.) Took DH to look at them for sturdiness. Nope...not very sturdy, and they had been out in the rain, so we passed.
Seeking a hand vac and better kitchen chairs on Marketplace and Craigslist.
Don't have to worry about trick-or-treaters as we live in the boonies.
Trying to win a cruise on a local radio station. Praying that I win!
Ugh, I hate bras! I'll cross my fingers for you to win the cruise!
Oh, Bras. my least favourite piece of clothing - I am lucky that weight lifting along with weight loss means I can get away with shelf-bra camisoles or shelf-bra tank tops. well, I say I can get away with them. I wear loose clothing always so if someone has a problem they will have had to look VERY hard in order to be offended.
Prior to this I have experienced much heartache about bras - my issue is that I am long from top to band, and rarely find bras with straps long enough. argh
As for your chairs, as you may have remembered I have been slowly replacing my rickety kitchen chairs, 3 were really sturdy OAK thrift store finds, discounted because there were only 3. 2 more were found at the side of the road in a rarely travelled subdivision (I also rarely travel there, and the chairs were all on their lonesome on a corner). Keep on manifesting, they will show up!
Despite being very close to a school and a park we have had one single knock on our door for Halloween in the last five years, a pair of teens who walked away with a handful each. Since then we've only bought a handful of candy, if that, to give out or enjoy ourselves. Our kids don't eat much candy at once so we usually have something on hand if we had to scramble.
1. I'm planning a much needed grocery trip this weekend so we've been getting creative with the odds and ends that are left in the fridge and pantry. So far my kids have been good sports, fingers crossed it'll stay that way.
2. My kids were up early this morning so I started a pot of black beans so they could have a nice soak all day in taco seasoning, onion powder, and tomato paste. They're cooking now in the instant pot and will be the perfect protein for Taco Tuesday.
3. I powered through my grogginess and cleaned the house rather than making another coffee. I try to stick with one (LARGE) coffee per day and I begrudgingly accomplished it today despite the early start.
4. I organized the leftovers in the fridge so they're in order of when they need to be eaten to avoid going bad, so now my lunches are planned for the week! Minimal waste and I'll have an emptied fridge before I replenish the groceries.
5. Submitted a refund request to Amazon after they were unable to deliver over $100 of diapers and wipes about a month ago. I've gone round and round with the post office and have finally been given confirmation from Amazon that a refund will be issued.
Good for you for persevering with the Amazon refund!
I’m uphill from a prime trick-or-treating area, and kids don’t want to walk up the (modest) hill. Every year, it bothers me to hear the action just one block away, but get only three or four kids at my door. This year, I’m happy that my usual small bag of candy will suffice!
We have a lot of stairs to climb, so I make sure to make my porch very "Halloween-y!"
My next door neighbor goes to the effort of waving and beckoning to the kids, but it doesn’t help. Maybe she is scaring them away! 😉
Kind of depends on how she's doing it!
We won't be home for Halloween for the first time ever, but we don't get trick or treaters. We've *ahem* more than made up for candy savings by booking a trip to Las Vegas with my friends to see Alanis Morissette on Saturday.
Trick or treating just does not happen in our neighborhood, which makes me a bit sad although happy to not have a bowl of sugary temptation around the house. There are a couple of churches/schools very close by that do trunk and treat and that seems to be the thing.
Luckily we live near the Snack Food outlet capital and we got a case (60 bags 2oz each) of brand name potato chips for $1.00. Yes, just 100 pennies for 60 bags. We also regularly score the top selling chocolate for around $2.00/lb so Halloween in these parts never breaks the bank.
What a delicious set of comments!
I have not handed out Halloween candy since I sold my house in 2006. I don't really miss it. But this Halloween I'm spending with one of my sons and two of my grandkids, and there will be candy galore. I see two big bowls ready for distribution, and there are some complicated plans involving meetups with friends for trick or treating and visits to downtown merchants who are handing out goodies. I am getting in the spirit.