When Halloween approaches, it can be easy to get carried away with
planning parties and purchasing items to give away when trick or
treaters come knocking. Consider trying some of these cheap Halloween
treats for this year’s goodie bags. (See also: Fun and Frugal Ways to Celebrate Halloween)
1. Pencils
Every Halloween season, patterned pencils in fun holiday colors
become available in large bags for a nominal price. These are one of my
favorite items to give out to children who come trick or treating to my
home. They allow me to skip the sugar, provide something they can use as
a school supply and keep from year to year if I don’t happen to give
them all away. As an added bonus, these Halloween treats are popular
with younger children and high school teens alike.
2. Erasers
As with the pencils, holiday themed erasers are the sort of cheap
Halloween treats you can use from year to year. They are typically
available in shapes such as bats, skulls, pumpkins and more, providing a
decent variety of handouts on the big night.
3. Peppermint Balls
If you’re looking for an exceptionally cheap candy option for your
Halloween treats, consider the individually-wrapped peppermint balls
available in the candy aisle of your favorite bulk shopping store. They
are inexpensive and come in their own container, making it a breeze to
disperse your goodies when the children arrive.
4. Caramel Corn
While many people are uncomfortable with hand-crafted treats being
handed out from a home they don’t have a connection with, choosing to
celebrate Halloween with house parties where all guests know each other
is becoming increasingly popular. If this idea appeals to you, then homemade caramel corn
may be a solution you want to consider. Easy distribution is possible
by storing the finished product in bulk-purchased Chinese takeout boxes
or decorated brown paper snack sacks.
5. Stickers
Stickers are the sort of cheap Halloween treats that make a nice
extension of the other items you are giving out. For example, purchasing
a large number of sticker sheets makes it possible to provide one to
each child to stick on their hand after you distribute candy. You could
also purchase larger, more elaborate stickers as your main give away
item.
6. Spider Rings
Throwing Halloween parties
usually means including a fair number of activities and party favors.
An inexpensive trinket to have on hand is spider rings. They are usually
available by the bag at dollar stores and discount department
retailers. Kids tend to enjoy them, and they are easily displayed in a
basket or decorated bowl near your entryway.
7. Bulk Specialty Items
Spider rings aren’t the only bulk specialty item you can use for
cheap Halloween treats. Other fun things are available for ordering as
well. For example, one year my husband and I ordered glow-in-the-dark
bouncing balls with alien graphics imprinted on them from Amazon. The
cost was nominal, and they were a huge hit on the big night.
8. Stuffed Hands
Using clear, plastic kitchen gloves and stuffing them with things
like popcorn, candy corn and trail mix makes for an unexpected and
whimsical snack offering. Simply tie off the wrist end after stuffing
with black ribbon and perhaps add a spider ring on one of the fingers.
If you are unsure how to get started, check out this article on how to make spooky popcorn hands. It will provide plenty of inspiration.
9. Clementines
Let’s face it, they’re certainly the right color. Additionally, they
are available by the crate at most grocery stores and allow you to keep
things healthy at a time when most households are suffering from sugar
overload. While this is also one of those food items strangers might not
feel comfortable receiving, it’s certainly workable for close family
and friends.
10. Hershey’s Kisses
Whether you go with the variety in the traditional silver wrapping or
select some holiday color and flavors to use as cheap Halloween treats,
chocolate kisses keep it simple and allow you to dump a large number of
treats into a single bowl for easy distribution.
11. Toothbrushes
Purchasing individually-wrapped toothbrushes in bulk gives the kids a
new personal item they can get excited about using, and parents a
temporary relief from calorie overload. It’s worth noting with this
suggestion that its affordability may vary depending on the price point
you are able to secure the toothbrushes at and how many trick or
treaters you typically have on Halloween.
12. Lollypops
Also available in bulk and in a variety of colors, lollypops are a
simple give away that won’t break the bank. If you don’t have a large
candy bowl to use on Halloween night or don’t wish to purchase one, you
can transfer the lollypops into a coffee mug since it’s relatively
simple to stand a bunch of them up straight in one. Just refill when
your supply runs low.
13. Saltwater Taffy
It comes in fun colors and is wrapped in a white, twisted paper
that’s appropriate for a Halloween color scheme. Saltwater taffy is
definitely a bit on the sticky side, but a fun nostalgic treat
nonetheless. It’s also a good treat for mixing in with other small
candies.
14. Pretzel Packs
If shopping in the candy aisle at your favorite bulk warehouse store
doesn’t appeal to you, then perhaps strolling through the section that
offers individual lunch treats might provide more inspiration.
Individual mini packs of pretzels available by the case provide a tasty
treat that’s low in sugar and fat.
15. Cracker Packs
Similarly, multi packs of crackers with flavored fillings are popular
with tots to teens and can be purchased inexpensively in large boxes.
With the prevalence of peanut allergies, you may want to avoid the nut
butter flavors, but there are several other options available to help
you on your quest for cheap Halloween treats.
16. Spooky Soaps
Another way to skip the sugar altogether is to purchase or make Halloween soaps as your give away of choice. These spooky soaps
from HGTV are a fun project to consider, but there are certainly plenty
of other craft solutions online to research if you so choose.
17. Halloween Straws
Twisty straws are a hit with all groups, including those grownups who
are still kids at heart. Search out fun colors with lots of twists and
turns as well as a decorative item attached. Kids will enjoy having them
to take with school lunches, and adults can use them to sip a Halloween cocktail or two.
18. Candy Sticks
Compact enough for easy storage, old-fashioned candy sticks come in a
variety of colors and flavors. Kids typically enjoy the retro treats,
and they are certainly easy enough to order and have shipped by the
case. Consider orange, black and white candy sticks to maintain the
traditional Halloween color scheme.
19. Lunch Pack Cookies
For a sweet treat that isn’t candy, you can also purchase
individually-wrapped lunch box cookies from the warehouse store. I’ve
seen a number of varieties suitable for Halloween treat giving,
including chocolate and vanilla sandwich cookies as well as filled
cake-style cookies.
20. Ghostly Pretzel Rods
More suited for handing out at a private party, these candy-coated ghost sticks
are a fun project to do with children and use pretzel rods in a
creative and unexpected way. They also store upright in a decorative mug
or glass, and take up less room on the counter if you are entertaining
in a small space.
Clearly, cheap Halloween treats don’t have to be chintzy or boring.
Consider one of these twenty options for your holiday giving this year.
source: financialhighway.com