Halloween has come and gone. There are a lot of great deals to be discovered after the holiday. Not everything on sale is orange and black. A lot of autumn merchandise will be cleared out, too. A rule of thumb for bargain shopping is not to purchase items you don't need simply because they're cheap. It's easier said than done. For years, I was a sucker for Black Friday sales and post-holiday clearance sales. I would get so hyped up that I'd actually overspend some of the time. I've learned to create a list of items I use on a regular basis and a list of potential gift items for the upcoming year, so when I clearance shop, I won't go overboard.
There are a plethora of practical items to be found. I've learned that Halloween-clearance items vanish more quickly than Christmas-clearance items, so if you see things you want at 50 percent off, don't wait too long hoping for a greater discount. If you wait too long, not only will the good items be gone, you'll be picking through a lot of broken knickknacks. I've noticed some stores will start clearing things out on Halloween day.
The following can provide some shopping ideas:
SCENTS: Halloween candles and potpourri can be used throughout the year. You can find scents such as pumpkin, cinnamon, cider, ginger, vanilla and spiced orange, to name a few.
COSTUMES: Not only can you plan ahead for costumes for next year -- a dress-up box full of costumes makes a great gift, and this is the perfect time to stock up on fun costumes to create one.
PAPER GOODS: Items such as napkins, paper plates, plastic baggies, facial tissue and plastic utensils are all practical items you can use year-round. You can also find party supplies, such as balloons and streamers.
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS: You can find various items, such as dish towels, potholders, doormats, outdoor garden flags, crystal and glassware, and place mats. These make wonderful gift items, or keep them for yourself.
DECORATIONS: Plenty of autumn decorations will be available. You'll find lights, fabric, wreaths, yarn and then more specific seasonal decorations, such as spider webbing, decorative plush, signs, ceramics, ribbon, silk flowers and window and door decorations. You can find houseplants, too.
BAKING SUPPLIES AND CANDY: One of the best deals to be found is tons of candy. Some of my leftover Halloween candy goes out the door to my husband's job. I fill a large container, and they have goodies to enjoy at work. Chocolates can be frozen to be eaten later. You can store candies in an airtight container and use them for baking. Head to your local library, and borrow "The Candy Bar Cookbook" by Alison Inches and Ric McKown (Longstreet Press, 2006). It contains more than 60 recipes using popular candy bars. You can create a fun pinata for the kids or keep some for stocking stuffers. I've made candy wreaths and used some leftover candy for a gingerbread house at Christmas.
You'll also find all types of baking supplies, such as sprinkles, frosting, cookie cutters and cupcake liners. Let's not forget the abundance of leftover pumpkins that can be used for baking, too.
MISCELLANEOUS GIFT ITEMS: I've found wonderful gift items, such as movies and books, flashlights, fishing items, school supplies, film, batteries, lip balms, soaps, clothing and toys.
Keep in mind that many charitable organizations would appreciate your donations, too.
Sara Noel is the owner of Frugal Village (www.frugalvillage.com), a Web site that offers practical, money-saving strategies for everyday living. To send tips, comments or questions, write to Sara Noel, c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016, or e-mail sara@frugalvillage.com.
