Halloween can be a spooky season of fun, but it can also be pricey if you’re not careful. One of the key ingredients of almost any fall celebration is candy. We all have our favorites. Our little ghosts gobble it up. But no one wants to overpay for those delectable treats. Can you really save money on Halloween Candy? You better believe it and I’m here to help.
Go Generic
You certainly don’t have to buy Scheemes Pieces or a Baby Suth bar. But when you’re haunting the aisles for candy be a savvy shopper. You may discover that the plain dressed name brand candy costs less per item than the orange and black variety. Skip the overcrowded aisle and check out the regular candy aisle instead.
Don’t Forget Your Coupons
Before you even leave your house, you need to be sure your coupon game is on point. Check for printable coupons from Coupons.com, Red Plum, Smart Source, and Target. Quick reminder: use grayscale to save on ink and recycled paper if you can. You’ll also want to check Meijer’s mPerks and Target’s Cartwheel for extra savings. And if you shop Walmart, don’t forget to use Savings Catcher. You can also use ibotta and Checkout51 to further your savings. Don’t forget to snag candy on clearance in the days after Halloween. If it doesn’t have seasonal wrappers you can use it throughout the holidays and even if it does, it can be used in baking or even frozen to extend it’s freshness.
Fast Food Coupon Booklets
You might also consider handing out coupons to your trick-or-treaters. Wendy’s offers a 5 Jr. Frosty Vouchers for just $1 right now. Select McDonald’s also have treat coupon booklets. This year, 7-11 is even getting in on the action offering coupons good for 20 small Slurpees for just $5.
Pop Popcorn or Offer Cider
If you live in a neighborhood where you know most of the kids and families who trick-or-treat there, consider skipping the candy and making a Popcorn Buffet. Pop fresh popcorn on the stove and bag it up. You could even punch up the fun by letting them add their own seasoning to the mix. If the weather is chilly offer up a cup of hot cider instead.
Go Bulk
Whether at a Warehouse store like Costco or Sam’s Club or an online retailer like Amazon, you may be able to save money by buying candy in bulk. As always pay attention to price per unit or price per ounce. And be sure that shopping one of these stores doesn’t lead to unnecessary purchases. It’s not a deal if you also come home with a big screen TV and a diamond ring.
Moderation is the key when it comes to candy. Certainly you want to be generous with all of the adorable children who come knocking on your door this Halloween. But you don’t need to provide enough sweets to allow their dentists to buy a boat after filling all of those cavities. Don’t be afraid to hand out just a few pieces to make things stretch.
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Thanks for the tips. We are kind of candy freaks here in the office and October always breaks the candy budget. 🙂