Retail Bargains |
|
Your Money > Retail Bargains Articles > Slash the cost...
|
|
By Rachel Robson
This Saturday marks Halloween. So here is how you can help the kids celebrate the pagan festival on a budget... It is that time of year again, when the kids get dressed up and drive me mad knocking on my front door saying 'trick or treat'. Yes, it is Halloween already. And if your children are hoping to celebrate it in style this year, but you are a little concerned about the money aspect, no need to panic! We have got some fabulous Halloween ideas that will not break the bank. Scary costumes If your sewing skills are not up to scratch, finding suitable Halloween costumes can work out to be very expensive. But if you know where to look, you can find some fabulous bargains. Bargain basement If you are on a really tight budget, it is well worth paying a visit to your local Poundland because right now it is packed full of Halloween offers for – you've guessed it – just £1! So if you are looking for great accessories for your costume, you can pick up anything from a witches hat, to a mummy mask, to a 'light up' witches broom for £1. Alternatively, if you are looking for the full outfit, you can choose from a witches costume or a pirate skeleton costume for just £5. (These are built up of a list of items which are £1 each, so you can pick and choose.) The middle ground If your budget can stretch slightly further, Mothercare is offering some brilliant deals on costumes. However, they are selling out quickly so you will need to get in fast! This pumpkin outfit with hat, for example, is now reduced to £8.40 and this Dracula outfit is £8. And if you really want to splash out and spend £120 or more, you can save 10% by using the online code AF9. Woolworths may have disappeared from our high streets, but it is still accessible online! And it does not disappoint, offering a variety of Halloween costumes at a range of prices. This Ghost Costume, for example, is £7.99 and this Witch Costume is £5.99. And if you order anything from the Halloween range, you'll receive a free reflector – so the kids can be seen in the dark when they go trick or treating! M&S is also worth checking out, with this groovy Bat Witch Hat at £5 and this Spider Witch Dress at £10. Finally, Angels Fancy Dress also offers a wide range of Halloween costumes for both adults and kids. Prices vary considerably, but new customers can save 10% by using the online code AF10HAL. Make your own! If, on the other hand, your creative juices are flowing, and you fancy making your own costumes, you will find lots of step-by-step guides at Activity Village. Here you can learn how to turn a rubbish bag and some white tape into a skeleton costume, or if you are feeling slightly braver and trust your sewing skills, you can find out how to make fabulous witch costumes. Party party No Halloween party would be complete without some fabulously spooky decorations. And once again, both Woolworths and Poundland come up trumps. At Woolworths, you can pick up anything from a string of spiders for just £1.99 to skeleton goblets for £1.95 each. And at Poundland, you can adorn your tables with candle lanterns, table cloths, and skeleton straws – all for £1. Alternatively, you might prefer this Party for £10 pack which includes a Pumpkin Lantern, Pumpkin Lights, bowls, cups and table cloth, and more! And if you are looking for a superb centre-piece for your table, this Scary Table Centre is just £5 at M&S. You can also pick up a pack of 8 paper cups and 8 paper plates for £1.50 each – perfect for a party! Recipes Halloween food does not have to be complicated or expensive and making it can be a great way to keep the kids occupied. If you are after some inspiration, check out the BBC Food website which is packed full of scary recipes. Here you can find out how to make freaky fingers from dough and dyed almonds, how to bake spooky spider cakes, and how to make eyeball pasta using mozzarella and basil leaves! And if you're after some Halloween cooking utensils, take a look at Lakeland where you can pick up Halloween cake cases for £1.59, and Halloween cookie cutters for £1.99. Games galore! Finally, if you are looking for some fanastic ideas for party games, take a look at this little lot. The doughnut game Hang some ringed doughnuts from a length of string and suspend at a height thats suitable for the kids. The children must then keep their hands behind their backs and try to eat the doughnuts. Apple bobbing Make this traditional game extra scary by filling the bobbing tub with milk and adding red food colouring. Add enough colouring until the milk resembles bright red blood. Add the apples and let the children take turns bobbing for them. If you have any kids who do not want to put their face in the milk, you could tie the stems of apples to string and then hang them up instead. Pass the pumpkin Similar to 'pass the parcel' – every child sits in a circle and once the music starts, the kids pass round a small pumpkin. When the music stops, whoever is holding the pumpkin is 'out' and must leave the circle. Continue playing until there's only one person left – you could give the winner a small prize such as a bag of sweets or chocolate. Wrap the mummy Get some cheap toilet roll and see who can use it to wrap up their friend the fastest. Sleeping vampires Similar to sleeping lions – all children lie down and the one who stays still the longest is the winner. Not only will this game allow you to enjoy some peace and quiet, but you also avoid spending any money on props! Pumpkin carving competition Ask all of your guests to bring their own carved pumpkin and give a prize for the best one. As well as providing a bit of fun, the extra pumpkins will add to the decorations! More from lovemoney.com |
| ||||||||||||||