As the summer wraps up, we all look forward to cooler days, the changing of leaves, and Halloween time. We put away the swimming suits and shorts and dig out our warmer sweaters along with fall time decorations. Reusing items, taking items from nature, and looking around your home for costume ideas are surefire ways to simplify Halloween time. You can happily celebrate without breaking the bank, if you follow these simple tips.

Reuse Decorations from Year’s Past
Hand -me -down decorations are all the rage and vintage items inspire the creativity in us. Ask your Mom or Grandma to dig through her attic; you will be surprised at what you find. Also, take a look at your local thrift store. They generally change out their merchandise according to the season. Don’t forget about looking in your own home, whether in your basement or attic. Sometimes after a holiday is over, we pack the decorations away and forget about them. Oftentimes, we have some wonderful decorations from the year’s past. Take a close look at what you have in your home.

Take Items from Nature
Pumpkins and gourds can be cheerfully (or not!) decorated with paints, old buttons, and any fun craft material that inspires you. Find an old chair, spray paint it, and arrange your pumpkin creation. When it gets closer to Halloween carve a ghoulishly scary face. Fall fields are bursting with beautiful weeds. Stop along the highway, pick your favorites, and create an inspiring arrangement for your home. Corn stalks can be a fun addition to the outside of your home. Or dress some up as a scarecrow. Find old clothes from the attic and make Mr. Scarecrow the talk of the town. Also, it is a fun time to plant fall mums and watch their colors blend so beautifully with the changing leaves. Nature can bring us the most glorious decorations while saving us money, too.

Keep Costumes Simple
If you have children or enjoy dressing up for Halloween you may have started to receive a barrage of costume catalogs in the mail. Many of them are costly and can be easily made with items at home and your imagination. Thrift and consignment stores have costume racks in their stores this time of year as well, with wonderful costumes discounted. A witch costume is one of my favorites. Simply find a black shawl, black pants, and a simple black shirt. Those items are easy to find at home. Then, top the costume off with a witch’s hat, broom, and a bit of makeup.

Keeping it simple allows time for fun fall pleasures such as apple picking, enjoying the leaves, and pumpkin hunting. Simplifying also brings back that wonderful sense of nostalgia.