As I have posted before in less than 4 years I have gone from 30 TOT to 260 last year because of my yard display (yes my neighbors really must like me and the additional cost to them ) I spent about $175 this year. I get 4 different variety of inexpensive candy and place it in a little halloween bag. I made 300 bags the other night , then i place 25 halloween bags in a plastic grocery bag so it is way to keep track how many people i got.

We get 25 TOT at best. We buy a box of gummies containing about 50 candies and a bag of mini chocolate bars that have about 30, so they get one of each.

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I gotta admit,,the ones who put some thought and effort into a costume get more. I've got the teens to say thank you more though. I started watching who said thank you and would toss them extra,,now they all say thank you.

We spent ~$30 this year on some mixed bags, but we have no idea what kind of traffic we'll see. We may actually have a lot left. I usually give out a handful to everybody unless I start running low with a lot of time left.

I think this is a great idea! But I'm such a weenie, I couldn't do it!

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Scream Jeanne

You know, now that you mention it... historically, I have tended to be a bit more stingy with those as well. If you're going trick or treating, at least TRY to get dressed up. I'm not asking for much, but don't who up at my house only wearing your football jersey.

This is from 2005. But, other than a much better area to place it, it's still the same. "The biggest candy bowl ever made!" as some kid elegantly put it the first year we moved in.

Let the kids take one. Except around the end of the night if we have extra left, let em take a couple.



We do mix in big grab bags of chips now too, instead of just candy bars. Both for chocolate allergic folks, and because they are quite popular.

360 last year. Planning 420 this year with some fun size as a backup just in case.

How much? Boxes of 30-36 bought at Costco, typically around $10-12 a box. It's nearing a point we're either going to have to cut off the larger bars, or find some assistance with the candy budget.

I also HAND OUT glow bracelets. But those are more saved for the wee ones, told it's magic to keep the scary things from attacking them. So, 360 TOT last year, about 150ish ended up getting glowstuff plus candy.

usually a hadfull of mixed but this year 1 full bar for at least a 99C store mask and a mini for kids with no costume, and nothing till they say toric or treat, Someone has to teach these kids

If you let the kids get their own, you will get more than a few older ones who will go for as big a double-handful as they can manage. You risk running out when they do that.

I like to do the arm-in-the-candy-cauldron trick. ("Thank you, Thing...") That way, I'm controlling the way the candy gets passed out, but at least it's a bit entertaining for them.

In my opinion, two or three pieces is sufficient, depending on what you are passing out. Say a chocolate and a couple of hard candies or caramels to go with it. They typically are going to visit fifty or more houses in a night, so it's not like anyone will go home feeling deprived. Besides, if you are doing the big Halloween display/haunt, they're going to remember you for that, not for how much candy you gave out.

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We made 315 bags this year. Hopefully it will be enough. We put 5 or 6 pieces of candy in them, crayons, a pencil, vampire teeth, and some other little toys and spider rings and such.

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