Save Money on Halloween at Meijer!

Love it or leave it, if you have children or enjoy a good scare, you probably celebrate Halloween in some way or another. Today I am sharing a few of my go-to tips on how to save money on Halloween at Meijer so you and your little ghouls can be off and on your way to getting ALL the candy worry free! I read recently that Americans spend on average $75 a person on Halloween. That’s an average spent for costumes, classroom activities, candy, decor and more. I for one thought that was nuts. When the boys were small I bought them a new costumer every year that fit what they were into at the time. I now am the proud owner of a collection including but not limited to: Buzz Lightyear, Woody, A puppy, a lion, a bumble bee, Superman, Iron Man, the Grim Reaper, A ninja and who knows what else. We bought the costumes and always loaded up the boys to trick-or-treat at my parents house. Their neighborhood is where I grew up doing the same thing so it’s only fitting that I walked with my sons on this memorable route. But in my 16+ years of being a parent and 19+ years as being a homeowner- I have never handed out candy. Ever. I also hardly decorate outdoors. Side note: I am not a gifted decorator so that may be why. Plus, my sons have never seemed interested in me decking the halls with spider webs and zombie decor. We are wild and crazy like that. So maybe it’s on purpose or even by default, but I have managed to remain unscathed in the battle not to overspend during this holiday. I practice a few tips on how to save money on Halloween and so far it has worked for me!

I have partnered up with my favorite local grocery store Meijer to share my tips on how to save money on Halloween. Please share YOUR tips and tricks below in the comments!

   

• Check online specials and coupons first before shopping for candy, costumes and decor to be sure that you are buying exactly what you want, not impulse shopping, and getting the best value. I always check what coupons are available on mPerks.com so I can “clip” them for use later. Stack those mPerks up with paper coupons as well as in-store specials for the best savings. Did you know that you can also save even more if you use the mCard Mastercard for your purchases as well as earn Mastercard rewards? This is a great first step to save money on Halloween!

• Buy candy in bulk: Well, of course. Those tiny bags of specialty candies are sometimes and often times not the best value. Look in the center isle at Meijer to find the best deals. Currently at my local store, the best candy selection for the price is near the costumes and decorations. Mix and match to get a selection of timeless favorites and the items that you pick out of your kids bags when you are “checking to make sure it looks ok”. Come on, we all do it.

• Many stores, including Meijer, have a dollar section or an end cap of large quantity, lower cost trinkets and decorations. Take advantage of that. There are some great deals to be had there.

• When it comes to crafting with your kids try to pick ONE craft to make together instead of literally making everything you see on Pinterest. This will cut down on how many items you are buying obviously, and the potential Pinterest Fails you experience. Oh wait, that might just be me ????

• Wait until right before Halloween to buy that great pumpkin. For one thing your carved creation with look more fresh on the big night and they are cheaper as the holiday approaches. Not to mention the fact that pumpkins are way cheaper at Meijer than at a local pumpkin patch. Having said this we take the boys to pick out their pumpkin at a local patch when we go to pick apples. But their big one, the one they carve up (and sometimes more than 1 each) comes from Meijer. You can’t beat the price and I know for a fact that they come from a radius of about 100 miles of my house. Did you know that Illinois and Indiana produce a LOT of pumpkins?

• Skip the all too cute themed foods and make your own boo-tastic treats! Rice Krispy treats with colored marshmallows or spooky sprinkles, the ever popular mummy dog, pumpkin-shaped pizzas or even chili are all easy to handle. Not to mention great for making in large batches (even a slow cooker chili recipe or made ahead of time) so you can eat and be on your merry scary way.

• Consider non-candy treat items like little coupons for a local ice cream shop, bouncy balls, glow anything- or the ever popular spider rings ????

• Clearly the good stuff costs more. Gauge your audience. At the end of the day the kids don’t care if you are handing out locally made dark chocolate or a mini snickers bar. Saving money is more important than some parent noticing you are handing out couture candy.

• Buy a little each time you shop- spread it all out so  it is not such a pinch at the checkout.
• Look for free activities in your area. Kids just want to dress up, get candy and play. You can do that anywhere and guess what- for free!

• My last tip, and one that never occurred to me until after my kids stopped dressing up, is to trade costumes with a friend. They might wear them once and they might just still look like brand new. So at your next MOPS gathering or coffee meet up talk about a costume exchange. I hear it’s a good thing!

Please share YOUR tips and tricks to save money on Halloween below in the comments! A few more places to find/follow Meijer: @Meijer on Twitter Meijer on Facebook Meijer Stores on Pinterest @MeijerStores on Instagram This post is part of a monthly series brought to you by Meijer  to share the savings you can experience in their store and online. Like all posts on Basilmomma.com all opinions are my own and the thoughts therein were created solely by me to educate and hopefully inspire!