The holiday's are almost here. In just 5 short day's millions of kids will go trick or treating, and then, the holiday rush will unofficially begin. Shopping, parties, cooking, and wrapping of gifts will work its way into our lives.
We all know that Americans spend billions and billions of dollars from November-December on gifts and decor for Christmas. But, what about the holiday's that precede Christmas and New Years?
About 2 weeks ago, I was out running, and came across a house a few miles away that was already decorated for Halloween. These people spared no expense for their yard.
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| This is really creepy. |
According to the National Retail Foundation, the average American spends around $75.00 on Halloween. That includes costume, candy, decor, and party supplies. In 2013, as a country, we Americans spent $6.9 billion dollars on this holiday alone. That is a 55% increase since 2005.
That lead me to wonder, why such a drastic increase for this single holiday?
I have no scientific research to back this up, but my guess would be the rise of Pinterest. I know for me, and my circle of friends, we don't make or decorate without heading to Pinterest first for ideas.
On a personal level, Halloween has always been one of the cheaper holidays. Growing up, my parents didn't purchase us packaged costumes. If we wanted to dress up, we needed to plan our costume from what he had in our closets and around the house, or we could go to a thrift store and come up with something that way. Most years, my brother and I were able to piece together costumes for less than $10.00.
As an adult, my husband and I don't spend a ton of money on halloween. For us, our biggest expense is buying candy to pass out. Last year, I think we spent around $15.00 for a few bags of candy. Our neighbors tend to gather around outside and the adults hang out on the sidewalk or in each other's yard passing out candy and talking.
As far as holiday decor, I rarely decorate for holiday's. We have never spent a holiday at our home. We always travel to be with family, and so I have never put the time or effort into it. Plus, I tend to be a little Type A, and a minimalist, and I don't like to see things moved around or out of place.
Tell Me: Do you decorate for Halloween or throw a party? How much do you spend? What is your Halloween tradition?
8 comments:
no decor here either except a few pumpkins! I do love handing out candy but won't buy until Friday because well, you know!
Christmas decor kinda freaks me out too - too much and it stresses me out. Tree and lights = good enough for me!
1. I ran into Macy's and Bath & Body Works with a friend the other day and almost flipped out at all the Christmas decor already up. CHRISTMAS. And they were playing Christmas music in BBW. Now I LOVE Christmas music, but not until at least November.
2. There's a dentist in the next town over who goes INSANE on Halloween decor. Every inch of his yard and the outside of his house is covered. People stop and park and walk through to look at it all. It's crazy and must cost him a fortune ever year.
3. I'm with you on the Type A (obviously) part. I do like decorating for the holidays, but only in ways that mean I don't have to move anything around. I'll add little things like right now I have some fake leaves in pretty fall colors put around and my fall candle scents are out. But I hate moving things around to accommodate seasonal stuff, it's just silly and annoying
This was my first year decorating for halloween and we went the opposite of all out, and still spent over $100. not fun. that doesnt include my costume or food and drink for the party we had. if we didnt have a party i doubt i would have bought anything. waste of money in my opinion, i like my decor out all year! but i'm not american, so that could be why lol
We spent $7 this year on treats to hand out to trick-or-treaters. I do enjoy Halloween, but I certainly don't spend much. We use the same decorations (which were hand-me-downs from my parents and in-laws) every year--much cheaper than buying new!
Halloween is not widely celebrated over here though it seems to be catching on.
But I can imagine how expensive it can be. My son attended his first and only Halloween party when he was in preschool and his costume certainly wasn't cheap.
I spent $25 on candy,$25 on a costume for my teenage daughter, and $4 on a pumpkin for the kids to carve. I hadn't bought a costume in over 10 years so didn't feel bad about it at all.
I don't have a Halloween tradition it varies by year. There are times where I stay home and hand out candy and then there are times where I head out. This year I'm headed out. I've decided to use my costume from last year so I can save some cash.
I do decorate for Halloween, but I use mostly re-usable things. The only thing I have to buy new each year is pumpkin for my porch! I don't understand all the Halloween spending either... Crazy!
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