Halloween fun without butchering your budget issues

By Michelle Dustin

Parents may have “budget” on the brain but those of trick-or-treat age have only costumes and candy on the cranium. Don’t let grown-up worries hinder their fun; with some creativity and improvisation, this year’s Halloween festivities can be as eerie as ever.

Conjuring the festive spirit of Halloween begins at home; ingenuity is essential in creating haunting home décor that costs next to nothing. Let nature be your muse by bringing the outdoors in. By incorporating the warm colors and rustic textures of the season, you can easily and inexpensively create a fall-friendly feel.

Have the kids help gather twigs, stones, leaves, seedpods, nuts and pine cones from outdoors. Shop the local farmers’ market for gourds, miniature pumpkins and decorative corn. These natural items can be arranged in baskets or in clear glass bowls and vases; tuck in a pumpkin-scented candle for added charm. (Man-made, but just as fun: fill bowls and vases with candy corn or black and orange colored jellybeans.)

The autumn elements can also be grouped together neatly to create a beautiful centerpiece. Be creative by using earthy items throughout the house makes for dirt-cheap de-corations. Colorful leaves and gnarled twigs can be quite enchanting, but this holiday screams for some more devilish décor.

Taking your decorations to the dark side is simple and affordable with the use of common household items and easy dollar store finds. Strewing creepy cobwebs is one of the easiest ways to go from “blah” to “BOO!” The webs can be purchased for only a few dollars, but in the tradition of penny-pinching, the webs can be made at home with a common toiletry. Gently pull cotton balls apart, stretching the fibers as much as you can. Clustering the pieces of stretched cotton gives you a mass of spooky spider webs. The webs can be used as table covering, hung from light fixtures or strewn over furniture. Don’t forget to stick fake spiders in the webbing!

Another fun, easy and budget-friendly addition to your Halloween trimmings requires rummaging through your holiday storage bins. First, pull out a few of the scariest masks from years past. Use black construction paper to cover the eyeholes of the mask from the inside. Next, stuff the mask with crumpled newspaper to give it shape. Place the beheaded ghoul on a table covered in cotton-ball cobwebs and accent with candles for an eerie effect.

Use these ideas to draw out your inner Morticia Addams, but don’t stop there. So many clever tips, creative craft projects and other decoration inspiration can be found on-line. And remember to keep the holiday thrifty for years to come: save and re-use decorations.

A sinister setting alone cannot capture the true essence of All Hallows Eve. The October celebration would not be complete without costumed kiddies running door-to-door excitedly reciting those three little words, “Trick or treat!” Store-bought costumes can get expensive. Homemade costumes save money and possess a uniqueness that can’t be bought.

Peruse the pieces already hanging in your closet. You may also find funky baubles in your jewelry box or fancy footwear in the shoe closet. Clever costumes, accessories and props may be hiding in the unlikeliest of places: the kitchen (tinfoil and a metal strainer are perfect for a robot costume), bathroom (think bathrobe, fuzzy slippers, face mask and curlers) and even the garage (rubber boots, fishing vest, fisherman’s hat and fishing pole).

Local thrift stores are another great place for funky finds and often their profits benefit a worthy cause. Recycling costumes and saving money go hand-in-hand; hosting a costume exchange is another savvy way to keep your wallet fat this Halloween. With each guest bringing his or her gently used costumes to the swap, everyone will surely find a suitable disguise.

Witch’s cackling, wolves howling and doors slamming; these scary sounds will spook the little ghosts and goblins as they approach your doorstep. Sound effect CDs typically cost between 10 and 20 dollars, but recording a CD of sounds at home is free and much more fun. The whole family can help create these menacing noises.

Record sounds such as terrorizing screams, morose moans, savage growls, clicks and clacks of the tongue, evil laughter and haunting voices. Use props to create other frigh-tening noises: banging and stomping, doors slamming and chains rattling. You’ll have a blast testing out different sounds and the finished product is sure to have those daring enough to ring your doorbell shaking in their boots. When your own children do their trick-or-treating, walk with them instead of following behind in the car. The benefits are tri-fold: you’ll save money, cut down on gas emissions and burn calories!

Trick-or-treating is not the only festive fun for families. There are several Halloween-themed events in the Twin Cities: For an edgier crowd: Barebones Halloween Extravaganza is an outdoor Halloween spectacle and puppet pageant. The event is free, but donations are appreciated.
When: Oct. 24, 25, 30 and 31, shows begin at dusk
Where: Hidden Falls Park, St. Paul
For more information: http://www.barebonespuppets.org or (952) 200-8757

An afternoon of excitement for the whole family can be had at The Boo Bash on Grand Avenue. There will be a petting zoo, children’s costume contest and trick-or-treating at area businesses. There is no fee to attend this event.
When: Oct. 25, noon-4 p.m.
Where: Grand Ave., Dale to Fairview, St. Paul
For more information: (651) 699-0029

Check out the Creekview Haunted House. Admission for children 5 and under is free, each person 6+, $3.
When: Oct 29, 30 and 31—on the 29 and 30 from 6:30-9 p.m. and 31 from 6-8:30 p.m.
Where: Creekview Park, 5001 Humboldt Ave., Minneapolis
For more information: (612) 370-4965