Writer and blogger Catherine Newman (benandbirdy.blogspot.com) created her own maple garland by collecting colorful leaves near her home in western Massachusetts and then connecting them with string. She used a sewing machine, but says a needle and string would also work. She also created a holiday-themed "comfort and joy" garland last year, after creating the letters out of brown grocery bags and gold acrylic paint.
9. Shop around for your pumpkin. Prices on those orange gourds can vary widely from store to store; a medium-sized one can cost as much as $20 or as little as $4 in city grocery stores. Also, consider taking a trip to a local farm, where pumpkins are often sold by weight and come with a hay ride.
10. Shop after Halloween is over. Stores are usually eager to unload Halloween-themed inventory as soon as the last trick-or-treaters are home for the night, and that means steep discounts on costumes, decorations, and even candy. If you have a place to store the goods at home for next year, you can save yourself some dough.


















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