9 Billion dollars approximately spent on Halloween by American Families.

Costumes and Candy cost..

Average for family. Around $80.

ABC News TV reported today



What a way to spend money!

I'm sure *my* mom never spent *near* that much (adjusted for inflation..this *was* 40+ years ago).

Also, i have never rented a costume as an adult...even during my time with someone who played music professionally and therefore the band played at Halooween parties..
I made my own..simple stuff.

Maybe it would be much better to spend it on booze and drugs?

On whisky? Yes.

I give out cans of pop

I wonder how many people put it on credit cards because they can't really afford it vs. how many splurged on it simply because they had the disposable income.

That's an interesting question ! The report. didn't say !

Many people shop by credit cards , otherwise they wouldn't probably buy much.

Companies love that. ! Gets people deeper in debt.

Like the insane amount people spend on Christmas...
Couple of things...

1. If you need to start begging in ~October~ on various sites that poor little Johnny won't have anything under the tree this year can anyone help out....no one owes you Christmas stuff for your kid.

I know, I know..Christmas moves around every year...you *never* know when it's going to be, so...you are caught off guard..can't plan for it..
But,that's still no reason to ask total strangers for stuff for your kid..
They are YOUR kids...not someone else's resposibility.

If you don't have money for the latest doo-dads..then, DO THINGS with your kids..spend time with them..cook a good meal together..
Something that is rare these days..
I may not remember every Christmas present I got as a kid...but I *do* remember the things we did (played board games, drove around looking at lights, etc.), and the dinners we had.
And *that* has suck with me all these years...
While i can only remmeber maybe a half dozen actual presents I got.

2. People who go through a big production for Kayla's first Christmas..(Kayla being a year old or less..)
Let me explain something.....6-8 month old Kayla doesn't have any idea what's going on WRT Christmas..
She may know somethng festive is going on, but...if she doesn't get presents, she's not going to feel left out.

Better to spend that money and make a big deal out of it once she's old enough to understand.
Otherwise, you're kind of just doing it for yourself...

We always had "good" Christmases..(me being an only child)..lots of stuff under the tree..
But, you know what?
I really don't remember any of them until I was 5-6, and then only vaguely.
I certainly have no recollection of the ones when I was a year or two old.

That's for Thanks Giving.

I buy Halloween stuff after Halloween to add to my decorations. So all I spend is like 40 bucks for candy. I make props so ive plenty to decorate. And Christmas after Christmas I never spend much. As far as presents go I shop all yr so I get the perfect gift. Sometimes it's some thing i made or something I've found at an antique place. We give gifts with a meaning to each other.

People Don't. Want others to tell them how to spend their money.

Even Financial advisers cannot help Some people.

Companies love the Big spenders. And credit card spenders.

I Don't care how Others spend Their money , Just don't. try to spend Mine.

I love to spend my money on myself family and sometimes others.

hello dude

Potatoes!

Potatoes, are my universal "go to" on Halloween.

I can give them out to trick or treaters.

I can throw them at passing cars.

I can ride around, throwing potatoes at pedestrians
and houses.

Dunno how much money was spent on booze and bangers in Ireland. But people should rather donate to animal charities. JMO

Humm since costumes cost anywhere from $15 - $100 it is pretty easy for many to spend that or more... then they have to buy candy to give out...

If it makes them happy it is their money think about those that have more then one kid they could easily spend that even if they make their own costumes..

Myself I don't see a problem with it as long is it is something they enjoy...

Myself I spend a big whopping $10 for candy never have any kids come by so I take mine to work to hand out...

I grew up in the very first planned community in the United States
(even before Leavittown) in San Lorenzo, California.

It was a bedroom community of thousands, miles of homes within reach.
At Halloween, you got a pillow case for the goodies and you started
walking for treats before it got dark and you went until the pillowcase
was filled.

There was one lady who gave out Hershey Bars! Everyone knew where she
lived and you could hardly get up her walkway for the crowd.
Inevitably she would run out real early.

I remember thinking, even then, I would be that lady when I grew up
only I would never run out.

So, yes, I spent the other 8 billion.

Well, if it makes people happy, who cares? I feel $80 isn't even all that much if you want to buy a custom as well.
With my ex we created a big show each year. The entire house had creepy sounds coming out of each window or door, there were light effects, smoking machine. My ex did all that, he was a professional lighting & sound tech. Didn't cost a thing as he had all the equipment. Helluva lot of work, yes. Took us days to prep.
I wrote the script, each year a different, new story, and I worked on props. Made a lot myself, I'm quite creative, and took care of our customs too. We never bought customs, I improvised with stuff we had, pieces of fabric etc.
One year we bought masks, but that was basically it.
We were the highlight of the village, each year, many came around 2, 3 times because they loved the show so much.

As for candy... I think we spent some E15-E20 (approx $15 - $20) on that. Not more. We never ran out. Granted, it was a village, so not like there'd be 2000 kids.

Now I don't do anything for Halloween anymore in the village I live in now. I don't like doing it alone. I did the first year, which was the first year they did something over here. So the kids didn't know what it was all about yet. (It's not really a Dutch thing).
So one kids said "Why are you being difficult, just give us the candy. That's what other people do as well."
That ruined my appetite to make an effort, dress up, and perform some act.