This Saturday marks Hallowe'en. So here's how you can help the kids celebrate the pagan festival on a budget...
It's 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's Hallowe'en already. And if your children are hoping to celebrate it in style this year, but you're a little concerned about the money aspect, don't panic! We've got some fabulous Hallowe'en ideas that won't break the bank.
Scary costumes
If your sewing skills aren't up to scratch, finding suitable Hallowe'en 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're on a really tight budget, it's well worth paying a visit to your local Poundland because right now it's packed full of Hallowe'en offers for - you've guessed it - just £1!
So if you're looking for great accessories for your costume, you can pick up anything from a witch's hat, to a mummy mask, to a 'light up' witch's broom for £1.
Alternatively, if you're looking for the full outfit, you can choose from a witch's 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're selling out quickly so you'll 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's still accessible online! And it doesn't disappoint, offering a variety of Hallowe'en 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 Hallowe'en 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 Hallowe'en 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'll 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're feeling slightly braver and trust your sewing skills, you can find out how to make fabulous witch costumes.
Party party
No Hallowe'en 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're 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
Hallowe'en food doesn't have to be complicated or expensive and making it can be a great way to keep the kids occupied.
If you're 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 Hallowe'en cooking utensils, take a look at Lakeland where you can pick up Hallowe'en cake cases for £1.59, and Hallowe'en cookie cutters for £1.99.
Games galore!
Finally, if you're 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 that's 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 don't 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 won't need to spend 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!
Happy Hallowe'en!
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