Shopping for Halloween Candy on a Budget
Do you live in one of those areas that trick or treaters descend on like a mob of zombies? These areas can be brutal and you may find yourself running out of candy too soon. How can you appease the hungry zombies – I mean trick or treaters – without spending a fortune? It’s easy, you just need to follow a few simple steps.
1. Consider the Need
How many trick or treaters visited your home last year? In many subdivisions, the numbers can range into the hundreds. Obviously, this is a lot of candy. Thankfully, many companies list the number of pieces on the front of the package to make it easier to determine how much candy to purchase. If the brand you’re choosing doesn’t, turn over the bag and look at the nutritional information. Quickly multiple the number of pieces per serving by the number of servings in the bag and you’ll know how many bags to purchase.
2. Be Choosy
Sure, you may want to give out Snickers or Starburst, but that may not be doable when answering to the demands of over 100 trick or treaters. That doesn’t mean you have to purchase the cheapest candy either. Brands like Willy Wonka offer high quality candy, but without the high prices. You can usually find 5 pound bags for around $10.
3. Shop Smart
Stores often have great sales during Halloween for everything you’ll need, including candy. Check the sales papers and start shopping early. Use coupons! You can score some good deals each week leading up to the big day. If you’re not in the mood to track down sales, shop at stores like Walmart, Dollar General and Big Lots to score the best deals.
4. Use Two Containers for the Candy
There are of course those trick or treaters that should have stopped trick or treating years ago. Of course, not giving them candy can get your house egged. That doesn’t mean you have to give them the good stuff though. If your neighborhood is known for having older trick or treaters, place cheap candy in one container and the good stuff in another one. That way you can easily give good candy to the trick or treaters that are actually the right age to be trick or treating and please the older kids without wasting money on them.