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5 Ways Halloween Can Save You Money

By WTOP Staff

Halloween is one of those holidays you either love or you hate. I know people who love Halloween more than any other holiday, and I know people who’d rather spend October 31 running errands or taking it easy.

If Halloween really isn’t your thing, don’t let the ghouls and goblins scare you away from saving a buck. Halloween brings plenty of opportunities to save money even if you don’t celebrate the holiday.

Pizza

Halloween brings some great deals on pizza. If you’re staying in Friday night, you can save a few bucks ordering pizza just because it’s All Hallow’s Eve. Papa Murphy’s was the first pizza joint to announce its Halloween promotion this year, but if 2014 is anything like last year, you can expect to see more pizza deals popping up this week. Last year saw great coupons and deals from places like Pizza Hut, Domino’s and Papa John’s. And if you can’t find a Halloween coupon for your pizza, find a regular coupon code online before you place your order. Two extra minutes surfing for coupon codes can save you up to 40 percent on your pizza order.

Party Supplies

After October 31, prices on Halloween décor hit rock-bottom prices. This is the case for most holidays, but we don’t usually think about the ways we can use leftover Halloween decorations. Just because the first things you think of are skeletons and ghosts doesn’t mean the leftover merchandise is limited to scary posters and statues. Halloween colors are typically the same as fall colors, so stock up on black and orange party décor to save on Thanksgiving dinner decorations.

Halloween Freebies for Kids

Many stores and restaurants offer Halloween freebies to attract customers on a night when most are busy trick-or-treating and bobbing for apples. Don’t miss out on all the free food. Kids get a free pancake at IHOP on Halloween. And the best part is, they’re finally allowed to play with their food. If you participate in IHOP’s #ScaryFacePancakes social contest, your child could also win a $50 IHOP gift card.

Outback Steakhouse is having a Halloween promotion for kiddos. Children ages 10 and under will receive a free meal for every adult meal purchased. The limit is two free kids’ meals. Call your local Outback to make sure your location is participating before you make your way to the restaurant.

Candy

Halloween candy will go on sale after October 31. And, what Halloween item doubles as a great holiday stocking stuffer? You guessed it — candy. Check out the discounted candy items that will go on sale on Nov. 1 to prepare for the stockings you’ll be stuffing come December. The Halloween leftovers are sure to cost less than those items in the bright red and white Christmas aisle.

Dining Deals

There are lots of great restaurant deals on Halloween. If you’d rather spend a night eating out than trick-or-treating, you might want to consider one of your many options for a discounted meal. Red Lobster is offering a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two adult entrees. Make sure you print the coupon before you head to the restaurant. If you’re in the mood for something a little quicker, Sonic is celebrating Halloween in a tasty way. You can get 50 cent corndogs all day on October 31.

Halloween night has several opportunities for you and your family to make a positive difference without spending much. Wendy’s is selling coupon books for a buck. The book includes coupons for free Junior Frosty desserts. The best part? A whopping 90 percent of the proceeds go to charity. Buying a few books will not only save you some money; it will put your hard-earned cash to good use. Chipotle isn’t leaving the hungry trick-or-treaters out of the saving game. You can get $3 bowls, burritos, salads and tacos at participating locations. All you have to do is show up in a costume after 5 p.m. and you’ll get an entrée on the cheap. And Chipotle is putting your money to work. Up to $1 million of the proceeds from this promotion will go to charity.

Have a very happy, safe and frugal Halloween.

More from U.S. News

12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families

10 Frugal Ways to Save This Fall

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5 Ways Halloween Can Save You Money originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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