by Ally Hart

Created on: October 25, 2009   Last Updated: November 18, 2009

Halloween is a fun time of year for both parents and children. Decorating houses with scary decorations and choosing a costume for the little ones. Parties, gatherings and trick or treating. Halloween is fun for everyone!

Halloween can also be expensive, especially if you decide to hand out goodies and have more than one little ghoul of your own who need costumes for the spookiest evening of the year or, worse, throwing a party you may be unprepared for.

Let's start with the decorations. This part is pretty simple. Dollar stores now have a wide variety of seasonal decorations including, of course, Halloween. They usually have items on the shelves in September to make sure customers get what they need ahead of most more expensive department or grocery stores. Stick to the basic ghosts, skeletons and creepy spider webs; anybody can pull it off!

Everyone loves Jack-o'-lanterns and obviously in order to make your own, you need a pumpkin. Markets or farms are great places to access beautiful pumpkins for your family to carve for Halloween.

Unfortunately, if you live in the city, grocery store prices for pumpkins can be rather high. However, the price gets lower closer to the holiday as stores want to get rid of out-of-season merchandise. Carving kits are sold at most craft supply stores, dollar stores and grocery stores. If you're looking for a template to carve your Jack-o'-lantern from, the Internet is a great place to find some; all you need is a printer.

Costumes are fun and an excellent excuse to do a project with your kids as well as allow your children to show their creativity and imagination.

Department or costume shops usually have a wide variety of costumes and accessories but are very expensive considering Halloween is just one day and most kids outgrow the costume by the next year.

Thrift stores often have a small variety of used costumes for a fraction the cost of a brand new one. Accessories are sometimes sold as well but in new condition or could be purchased at a dollar store too.

Hand-me-down costumes from friends, family or older siblings are a great money-saver. You can easily throw accessories and makeup from a dollar store with the hand-me-down costume and create your very own idea of scary!

Generosity is part of Halloween. Handing out treats to local community children puts a smile on their faces, even if it's just one night.

There are a lot of scares with food allergies in schools and most people should keep this in mind when purchasing Halloween treats to hand out. You don't know these children, so keeping treats peanut and nut free is a respectful and safer way to be generous this Halloween.

Treats don't need to be expensive. Remember, the closer you get to Halloween the lower most stores put their prices to get rid of it before it's out of season.

Above all, don't stress over Halloween; it's Christmas you need to worry about.

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