Halloween can be a fun time or a parent's nightmare --simply another time to be fleeced by Big Business. I think that kids have the most fun with Halloween when it is a participatory event. They design and make their own Halloween decorations and costumes. To get them started go to:
Free Halloween Coloring Pages
http://www.raisingourkids.com/hol/halloween/freehalloweencolorin
gpages.shtml
Free Halloween Cards
http://www.postcards.bansheeweb.com/kidshallowpost.shtml
Halloween Ghosts Word Search
http://freebies.about.com/library/words/blws035.htm
When it comes time to carve the pumpkin you don't need to buy a fancy stencil --free one's are online!
Pumpkin Carving Patterns
http://www.pumpkinmasters.com/
Halloween Graphics
http://desktoppub.about.com/library/goblins/blironon.htm
or for those who think some patterns are not religious:
Patriotic Flag Printable
http://desktoppub.about.com/library/weekly/flagpattern.pdf
You can make and decorate your own Halloween Lantern.
Pumpkin Lantern
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art5275.asp
And Finally make a wonderful Halloween Feast for the big night.Check out:
Scary Halloween Treats! from Monster guts to mini- pumpkin
cheescake a wonderful list of recipes!
http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/2522.asp
Dinner in a Pumpkin Shell!
http://homecooking.bellaonline.com/articles/art5467.asp
To send your Halloween card get free postage at:
FREE POSTAGE for the holidays!!! Stamps.com--$25 dollars free postage!
http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?bfmid=9441148&siteid=19931208&bfpage=p-ticker" TARGET="_top"
And get your free Halloween Horoscope at:
Free Horoscope Astrocenter.com-- fun computer generated freebie which attempts to be accurate.
www.astrocenter.com
To make a costume use things you find around the house encouraging your kid to be creative. For two years in a row, my kid was the "Leaf Ghost" ghost of fallen leaves a costume he created and painted himself...A large white maple leaf... For a Mask I covered his face in white makeup consealer and put blood red drips on his face with lipstick. No special over priced store make up needed. Makeup samples would work just as well.
What he'll be this year I'm not sure, but I'm sure it will be interesting. Try giving kids their pick of old clothes or boxes. Boxes painted silver make cool robots. One friend once took a garbage bag and then wrote on it with white masking tape "GENERIC COSTUME" which I thought was a hoot and cheap too.
SO Happy Halloween!!
Check Out these other Frugal Articles on Halloween!
Frugal -- but fun -- Halloween
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art13993.asp
For more ideas cheak out these Frugal Living Books!
Complete Tightwad Gazzette
The Complete Tightwad Gazzette
Declare Your Finanacial Independence
Declare Your Financial Independence
Complete Cheapskate
Mary Hunt's Complete Cheapskate
Miserly Moms
Miserly Moms
You Can Afford to Stay Home With your Kids
You can Afford to stay Home WIth your Kids
