Halloween On A Budget

Alright before we get in to saving money for the most frightening holiday of them all, we need to SHARE THE LOVE!  If you haven’t seen Honor’s video submission for a Share The Love credit union competition featuring The Humane Society of SWM, United Way of SWM and the Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative, stop what you are doing and go to Honor’s website right now. (www.honorcu.com).  In the lower left hand there is a link directly to our video so you can watch and VOTE!  We could win up to $25,000 grand all for charity!

Ok…now back to Halloween savings….

Halloween can be a scary, silly, totally fun holiday, especially when you have an incredible party to attend! But, if you’re the host of that spooktacular party, chances are you spend a bundle just throwing it for everyone, and causing yourself a lot of financial stress in the process. It’s officially the season of Halloween so by following these tips and starting you planning now you can save a few while throwing a scary bash!

1. Create Ambience: Forget the fancy fog machines and expensive black lights. Play scary movies or music in the background instead! Download free Halloween iTunes tracks, or pick up a couple of cheap Halloween CDs from the thrift store.
2. BYOB: Bring Your Own “Boos”. If you’re planning on having alcohol at the party, play on a Halloween pun by encouraging guests to bring their own beverages – adult or not!
3. Decorations: Stock up on cheap items that go a long way, like small pumpkins and caution tape, but don't forget the power of DIY. Ghosts made out of milk jugs and spiders crafted out of black paper are both time and cost effective!
4. Night hour: Consider hosting your fete later in the evening, past dinnertime. This way, you won't have to provide elaborate dishes but can stick to appetizers like chips and veggie plates.
5. Costume contest: The most important part of any party aren't the decorations, but how much fun people have. Tell guests ahead of time to expect a costume contest so they'll be dressed in their best. It'll add a competitive but fun element that makes for the most memorable of Halloween parties.

Don’t forget to have fun! It IS your party…so enjoy it! Be sure to put some thought into your costume. Oh, and don’t forget, DIY is just as great as store-bought (but a lot cheaper!)

Don’t forget to follow Honor on Twitter @honorcu!  Tweet us and let us know what you want to hear us talk about on Mason Jar Monday next week using #askhonorcu!

To listen to Honor's Kaylee Williams and Y-Country's Mark Durocher discuss throwing a Halloween party on a budget, click on the Mason Jar Monday episode below!