Easy Halloween Hacks

The end of October can feel overwhelming with all the trunk or treats and Halloween-themed parties our kids are attending or maybe we are running out of time and forgot to carve that pumpkin or decorate the outside. Don’t worry – we have come up with some easy Halloween hacks for you to save time from simple costume ideas to cost-effective decor:

Cutting Down on Candy

1. Agree on a set amount of candy to keep before trick or treating, and donate the rest.
2. Pass out mini waters to avoid having any leftover candy.

Less Mess Pumpkins

1. Grab a pack of paint pens. Glitter – if you’re feeling fancy – and you will have colorful pumpkins without the clean-up!
2. Use cookie cutters to carve pumpkins.
3. Cut out the bottom of the pumpkin, instead of the top when carving.
4. Use a hand mixer to remove pumpkin guts before carving
5. Use Modge Podge pumpkins with dried flowers (maybe for a girl’s night?)

Cutting the Cost of Costumes

1. Make your own costume.
2. Organize a neighborhood costume swap.
3. Use old sheets from your linen closet and sunglasses to do a ghost photo shoot with your kids.

Spooky Snacks

1. Bake a pan of brownies and add candy eyes for a quick treat.
2. Make a candy salad with leftover Halloween candy or add as mix-ins to cookies or toppings for brownies.
3. Use the cool whip to make a ghost shape and surround it with berries for a charBOOterie dipping board.
4. Draw faces on the outside of clementine oranges for a spooky snack.
5. Draw a Frankenstein face on a clear plastic cup then fill it with green grapes for a cute treat.
6. Draw eyes on individual string cheese wrappers for a ghostly gathering.
7. Add a chocolate munchkin to a plain donut and use black or brown icing to draw spider legs.
8. Cut an apple into slices and cover two slices with peanut butter. Using mini marshmallows assembled to look like a mouth.

Easy Decoration Ideas

1. Use solar lights to keep your electricity bill in check. You can get color changing or use white so you can keep them up all holiday season.
2. Add plastic spiders or eyeballs to your hand soap for a spooky upgrade.
3. Upcycle your tomato cages by adding a foam ball and sheet to make easy ghost decorations.
4. Soak mums when you get them from the bottom for 30 minutes to help them last longer.
5. Fill the sink with warm water and add one cup of white vinegar. Soak your pumpkins for 10 minutes or 10 minutes per side to help them last longer.

Trick-or-Treating

1. Grab some glow sticks. I like to stock up on glow sticks and jewelry so they are readily available for trick-or-treating and Halloween events. They make everything special & you can add them to strollers and the bottom of candy buckets.
2. Use a pillow case as a candy bag.
3. Plan out your trick-or-treat route in advance.
4. Have kids wear pajamas under their costumes for an easy transition to bedtime.
5. Review safety tips as a family before Halloween.

Do you have an easy Halloween hack that we missed? Share it with our community in the comments.