Skip to main content

Don’t Get Scared Off By Halloween Prices

By U.S. News & World Report

Looking to celebrate Halloween in bloodcurdling high style at a low price? You need not pay a sawed-off arm or a leg, or have a wooden stake driven through your financial heart. Here are a variety of ways you can save and still have a werewolf-like “howling-at-the-moon” good time.

No Screaming Because of Prices

First, you’ll get a price break with your Halloween celebration purchases this year. In some doubly devilishly good news, Bankrate.com’s third annual Price of Fright index found Halloween prices have slipped slightly over the past year. A sample of items, specifically two 40-ounce bags of Halloween chocolates, one children’s pirate costume, one pumpkin and three decorations (a light-up tombstone, a life-size hanging skeleton and a spooky lantern), cost 0.7 percent less than a year ago. That’s if you are paying full-price. We’ve found some ways to avoid that and save even more …

‘Boo’ to Beginning Without a Budget

Only a free-spending ghoul goes shopping without a list and a budget. We suggest that you map out some financial constraints for your Halloween celebration, and try to stick with them. The National Retail Federation found that Americans plan to spend $6.9 billion on Halloween this year, and the average person will spend over $74 on holiday decorations, candy and costumes.

By following these cost-savings strategies, you can cut that amount by more than half.

1. Thrift for scary cheap costumes.

If you’re hooked on saving money like Dracula is addicted to blood, think about checking out a thrift store as you put your costume together. Goodwill Industries reports that October generates its largest monthly sales of the year, and Halloween is a big reason why. New costumes purchased elsewhere at retail can cost $50 or more. There is also large inventory of items online, but there’s nothing like seeing the goods up close, says Evette Rios, lifestyle expert and Goodwill spokeswoman.

“Goodwill stores will have the most selection of Halloween costumes and accessories, such as witches hats, as well as items like face paint, bow ties and suspenders,” Rios says, adding that the Internet auction site, Shopgoodwill.com, has a growing selection of Halloween costumes.

2. Go on a witch hunt for coupons and cash-back offers.

If you are shopping online or in traditional brick-and-mortar stores for your Halloween goods, don’t forget about printed or electronic coupons. Sunday newspaper circulars have been offering coupons for Halloween candy the past few weeks.

In addition, smartphone and Web-browser-based apps like Coupons.com and RetailMeNot use GPS to alert consumers about special offers nearby. A quick check of RetailMeNot.com also yielded a deal for up to 50 percent off Halloween items sold on eBay. Another new trend involves giving customers cash back, or rebates, on purchases. You can look for these from the retailers themselves as well as from CouponCabin.com and ibotta.com.

Don’t forget to ask at the checkout counter if there’s an additional coupon or savings you may have overlooked.

3. Throw a phantasmal potluck party.

The National Retail Federation found that nearly one-third of consumers plan to throw or attend a party with friends and family this year. Talk about scary: Think about cooking food or paying for catering for a large group of people. Here’s where a good, old-fashioned potluck dinner could fly to your rescue like a caped superhero.

Andrew Housser, co-CEO of Freedom Financial Network, suggests that by asking each of your guests to bring food and/or drinks to your Halloween party, you could save as much as 50 to 80 percent on what you’d otherwise pay. “Focus parties on the people,” Housser adds. “Most of the fun with Halloween parties is in … seeing all the costumes.”

By following all of these steps, you can wake up Nov. 1, look at your bank account and avoid zombie debts.

More from U.S. News

The Best Frugal Halloween Tricks

10 Money-Saving Websites to Check Before Shopping

7 Products to Never Buy in Bulk

Don’t Get Scared Off By Halloween Prices 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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote