Anyone else a scrooge and NOT give out Halloween candy?

[Aimeedyan]

Or Halloween goodies?

I love trick or treaters but buying enough for them is too much $$. 2 years ago, I spent $20 on candy (which is a lot, to me, since we buy groceries for 7 days and spend $30) and it was gone in an hour. I needed to buy triple to cover it. And that was the cheap stuff and being stingy! We just had tons and tons of kids. Last year we were gone that night, thankfully. I suppose I could collect some rocks instead...

I told DH that as much as I love it, we really just didn't need to spend the dough on candy for everyone else. When we have kids, we will absolutely budget for it since it's only fair if our kids are out trick or treating but for now, I think we'll hide in the house and pretend we aren't home.

Anyone else opt to not give out candy/goodies? Or are we the only cheap wads in the neighborhood?

 

[RitaZ.]

since we buy groceries for 7 days and spend $30)

Forget the candy! I want to know what you do to spend only $30 and for 7 days!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Forget the candy! I want to know what you do to spend only $30 and for 7 days!

We're cheap! I know it'll go up significantly when children arrive so we are enjoying it while it lasts.

 

[sugarpie]

Forget the candy! I want to know what you do to spend only $30 and for 7 days!

Me too!!! I spend way too much on groceries. You could give lessons.

But really, if you can't afford it, it's completely understandable to not give out candy.

 

[Hixski]

Or Halloween goodies?

I love trick or treaters but buying enough for them is too much $$. 2 years ago, I spent $20 on candy (which is a lot, to me, since we buy groceries for 7 days and spend $30) and it was gone in an hour. I needed to buy triple to cover it. And that was the cheap stuff and being stingy! We just had tons and tons of kids. Last year we were gone that night, thankfully. I suppose I could collect some rocks instead...

I told DH that as much as I love it, we really just didn't need to spend the dough on candy for everyone else. When we have kids, we will absolutely budget for it since it's only fair if our kids are out trick or treating but for now, I think we'll hide in the house and pretend we aren't home.

Anyone else opt to not give out candy/goodies? Or are we the only cheap wads in the neighborhood?

We don't give out candy. There are way too many kids in our neighborhood. DH and I don't have any children so we just go somewhere for dinner. We probably spend less on dinner and a couple of drinks than we would for that much candy. If someone wants to think we are cheap wads they can go right ahead.

 

[RitaZ.]

We're cheap! I know it'll go up significantly when children arrive so we are enjoying it while it lasts.

Don't sweat it! We all do what we can.

When DH and I were first married, there was one Halloween that we couldn't afford to buy candy for the trick-or-treaters. I didn't want to answer the door, but DH didn't feel right about that. So, he opened the door and told the kids we didn't have any candy.

I'm still waiting on those grocery shopping tips!

 

[poohandwendy]

I suppose I could collect some rocks instead...

I always give out candy, but I really would love your grocery bill. Holy cow, I spend more than that on one meal for the 5 of us. (not at a restaurant, at the grocery store)

That's the downside of having teens.

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

I live on a dead-end street with a steep hill. When I first moved there, I bought candy and sat outside with my little bowl. After two hours, I had ZERO trick or treaters. Since then, instead of waiting around my house, I pitch in money to my parents and go over to their house to hand out goodies.

 

[MzDiz]

I carefully pick out candy and spend between 50-60 bucks for it each year (we live in THE trick-or-treating neighborhood) but after reading the other thread and seeing how so many people just toss it all in the trash, I'm rethinking!

 

[Sparx]

I live for halloween. We were finished decorating by noon on the first. I love it.

 

[ALittleDisneyFan]

I'll try and keep this short..

Around this time, UNICEF starts asking for donations. We're anti-UNICEF, due to them trying to shut down the country we're adopting our Princess from. So, part of me really wants to give out candy so I can give their parents info on UNICEF and their behavior... But part of me just wants to say OH WELL because our neighbors are such JERKS to us!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Don't sweat it! We all do what we can.

When DH and I were first married, there was one Halloween that we couldn't afford to buy candy for the trick-or-treaters. I didn't want to answer the door, but DH didn't feel right about that. So, he opened the door and told the kids we didn't have any candy.

I'm still waiting on those grocery shopping tips!

I'm not sure if I can give any tips, really I buy 5 meals worth and we stretch by eating leftovers or tossing something together (bacon and eggs, pancakes, grilled cheese, etc). I eat leftovers or a healthy choice tv dinner for lunch and I always pay less than $2 for the tv dinner when they are on sale with coupon. DH eats a sandwich every single day for lunch and is happy. We buy meat, frozen seafood, cheese, etc in bulk at Sams or Costco. We don't keep any snacks or junk food in the house nor do we buy soda - just bottled water. That's for my benefit; I'm trying to lose weight! We buy generic or use a coupon and I plan meals off of what is on sale. I also stockpile stuff when it's cheap so there is always something to pull together for a meal.

It's not because we can't afford more for groceries, it's that I was tired of throwing stuff out that we never ate or eating junk just because it was in the pantry. Our fridge looks pretty bare on a regular basis but we find that we snack less that way and waste less food. I was also raised by parents that were poor most of the time and that cheap mentality is drilled into my head!

 

[Zandy595]

We always give out candy, but my mom decided she's not going to do it this year. She's one of those people who decorates for every holiday and she used to love seeing all the kid's costumes. She said the last few years there were just too many disrespectful teens banging on her door late at night, no costumes, smoking and throwing trash on her lawn.

 

[RitaZ.]

It's not because we can't afford more for groceries,

Oh, I didn't mean it like that. I was referring to the candy. My mom also comments that we throw away too much food.

 

[nja33]

We don't but we also live on a major highway and our doorbell is broken so even if we did have trick or treaters we wouldn't hear them. This didn't stop my mother from buying 4 bags of Halloween candy at the grocery store today, however.

 

[beckmrk04]

I always give out candy- I usually dress up even. But, to address a pp's comments: here's my rule-

No costume, no candy. NOT at my house! You can't just wear regular clothes and put a mask on and expect me to give away my delicious chocolate for your half-a**ed effort. (BTW- this is specifically directed towards older trick-or-treaters, whom have become greedy and out-of-hand).

 

[thewishfire]

I LOVE Halloween, but we don't give out candy any more.

We want to, but we get to many 'undesirable types' coming to our door; and I don't mean that in a snotty way of course. We have people actually try to get in our house/porch when the door is locked... drunk parents with plastic bags coming from a very bad city near by... people we do not want to deal with. When my friend and I were younger (maybe 10?) she was actually pushed down by people at her door and her candy was taken.

We decided that once we move we'll try giving out candy again. I hope it will work out because I love doing it!

 

[Hannathy]

I have a hard time understanding why you can't give out something like dum-dums or smarties those things are dirt cheap like 2 cents a piece. I think it is so worth it to see the kids and remember how disappointing it was as a kid to see houses without their lights on. In our neighborhood we have a couple that doesn't give out candy and yes they are called cheap and unfriendly. Even my friend who absolutely dislikes children to the point of haveing a vasectomy at 26 gives out candy! IMO it is cheap to not give out something if you can.


I agree with the if you can't dress up you get the lousy candy!

 

[Beca]

I carefully pick out candy and spend between 50-60 bucks for it each year (we live in THE trick-or-treating neighborhood) but after reading the other thread and seeing how so many people just toss it all in the trash, I'm rethinking!

I love Halloween...and, I love handing out candy!!! We actually take my dd out early (around 5:30) so we can come home and hand out candy...she's like me, she thinks that is MORE fun than getting candy!!

We lived in AZ for 11 years, and since many religions in AZ (well, mainly one) do not encourage Halloween, we never got many "guests". Last year, we moved home to Texas, and didn't know we were living in THE neigborhood to trick-or-treat in our town. While we were out with dd last year, meeting the neighbors, I would ask, "Do we get a lot of trick or treaters here?" The replies: "Yeah, but you just turn your lights out when you run out of candy.", or "Oh yes, the trucks full start coming in around 8". TRUCKS???!!! Well, yes....TRUCKS!!!

Sure enough, after 8 it was difficult to find parking in our neighborhood...it seems this is the neighborhood to trick or treat...I thought it was great!!! The fire department even drives down the streets handing out candy from fire trucks (Santa does this a Christmas, too). I don't know how much I spent on candy last year...but it wasn't enough...we did have to turn our lights off around 10pm, and there were still people combing the neighborhood. But, a lot of people dress up to hand out candy, and do pass out full-size candy bars, and kids trick-or-treat here thru high school....so, I guess I will just have to buy a lot more candy this year!!!

To each his own....we certainly don't think badly of those who don't hand out candy. A lot of people I know have religious concerns about this holiday. That is their choice....but, I just LOVE seeing the kids...it is just too much fun to pass up!!

 

[apirateslifeforme]

We usually don't get any in our apartment complex - maybe one or two at most, and they're usually obnoxious teenagers who appear around 10 p.m. - but I'm going to get a bag of something in the hopes that my crush-friend MIGHT bring his kids around!