Spill the beans... on your Halloween MoneySaving tricks 'n' treats

[Deleted User]

Like others here, thought I'd use the flesh of half of the pumpkin to make soup but it was absolutely TASTELESS

I roasted the other half to try to give it some flavour but not even that worked (waste of power and oil).

It's in the fridge at the moment but about to go in the bin if I can't come up with a recipe to make it worth eating ... Any offers?

lswwong

I save up any unwanted sweets and chocolates e.g. from restaurant meals and bag them up for Trick n' Treaters. Those little lollies from Little Chef are particularly good!

mcja

for next year, I have bought the kids new costumes from M&S (£2.50 each) and new naff bits from sainsburys for 70% off Loads of new tat for the house!!

anjak-j

julie777 wrote: »

If you are fed up with the whole racket here are 2 suggestions:
1) Put an empty basket by the gate with a large sign "Help Yourselves"
2) Put up a large sign saying "Halloween is Pagan and Demonic"

Because option 2 is not at all offensive to genuine Pagans who have to deal with the corruption of a sacred holiday for the benefit for everyone else... :rolleyes:

gaily

I've found the best way to do halloween for the past 2 years. I dress the kids up in costumes (usually bought Nov 2nd from the year before for a fraction of what they cost only days before), and I take my kids trick or treating (they are 5 now, so still at the cute age stage!).

They love it and come back with big bags of sweeties, which we ration to a few a day (or a little haribo style bag) - normally lasting til near christmas.

By the time we come home, noone else is out trick or treating, and we only visit houses with pumpkins outside. Plenty of those in our area. Bingo - works all ways!

NB - we do not visit those who do not look like they want to participate - why annoy them and disappoint the kids!

Just_Plain_Jane

Corona wrote: »

Like others here, thought I'd use the flesh of half of the pumpkin to make soup but it was absolutely TASTELESS

I roasted the other half to try to give it some flavour but not even that worked (waste of power and oil).

It's in the fridge at the moment but about to go in the bin if I can't come up with a recipe to make it worth eating ... Any offers?

I would fry up a couple of bacon rashers and an onion, chuck in a chopped celery stick, a few carrots, a leek if you have one and some red lentils. Boil it all up with enough water to cover, a stock cube / homemade stock. Add the cooked pumpkin soup near the end and heat through, add a bit of salt and pepper to taste and a touch of cream if there's any going.

You could also add a red pepper, kidney / haricot beans, potatoes, anything to bulk it out and add flavour really.

Or just chuck a bit of curry powder in it

yorkshireman99_2

Put a big notice on the door saying 'Sorry - no Trick or Treat' . There are plenty on the internet to google and print. It has worked the last couple of years. I used to give small gifts until one year I had to go out during the evening and returned to find eggs smashed over the house. The following year I tried the lights-out approach and had paint stripper poured through the letter box. I now do everything possible to discourage the nasty beggars (to put it politely).

penarthian

All the products stocked in shops for Halloween are now being reduced. Lakeland has noise machine, cake covers etc at less than half price. Sainsburys have Jaffa cakes with green jam for pennies! My tip is to go hunting for next year now, buying costumes, makeup, cake supplies, maybe not to keep but who cares if the Jaffa cake jame is green rather than orange! I saw all these on sale in Cardiff today.

carlislelass

Our local paper puts a No Trick or Treat poster in on the day...always works although no young children in our street

Denando

Just_Plain_Jane wrote: »

I would fry up a couple of bacon rashers and an onion, chuck in a chopped celery stick, a few carrots, a leek if you have one and some red lentils. Boil it all up with enough water to cover, a stock cube / homemade stock. Add the cooked pumpkin soup near the end and heat through, add a bit of salt and pepper to taste and a touch of cream if there's any going.

You could also add a red pepper, kidney / haricot beans, potatoes, anything to bulk it out and add flavour really.

Or just chuck a bit of curry powder in it

Agree with what JPJ said. Fried onions add great flavour to any soup. And sage goes particulary well with pumpkin too. Then you can fry up some leaves as 'crisps' to float on top for a different texture. And am liking the idea of bacon - must try that with mine.

I also made pumpkin curry last year but used a bit too much curry powder (didn't realise the ex lodger's leftover pack was 'extra strong'). I 'diluted' it with lots of lemon juice and it made a very nice dish in the end.

Yummm. getting hungry now and wish I'd bought a pumpkin this year!