How to get ready for the spookiest Halloween ever
Halloween – its’ origins date as far back as the ancient Celts; it’s huge in America and in recent years it’s become a pretty big event down under too. These days, more and more Aussies are embracing Halloween, but this year's celebration may be a little more restricted thanks to COVID-19. But it’s definitely not cancelled and by practicing some good hygiene and wearing a scary mask you can still enjoy the spookiest Halloween ever. Here’s how.
Prepare the costumes
Of course, the first thing you need to get ready is the costumes – for the little kids and the big kids too. This year, rather than hitting the shops, why not look for unique and spooky costume ideas online! A couple of great places to start are CostumeBox, Costumes and Blossom Costumes. We’re pretty sure you’ll find loads of great options for you and your kids. And for a topical talking point, check out the Coronavirus Halloween masks for sale on Amazon.
Or, if you’d prefer to do it yourself, take a look at these awesome ideas from Good Housekeeping - you can use them as inspiration without spending a lot of money.
A few things to keep in mind, though, about the kids’ costumes. Try to avoid long capes as these can be a trip hazard and remember that pointed or sharp props can inflict real damage. It’s also a good idea to attach some reflective tapes on the kids’ costumes so they can easily be spotted even if it’s dark.
Tricks and treats
Halloween is not the same without tricking and treating. But if you don’t want to let the kids outside because of the pandemic, they can always have plenty of spooky Halloween fun inside the house with you and other members of the family as the treaters. Make sure you decorate the house with lots of cobwebs, spiders and other scary stuff.
But if you plan to go all out, here are a few Halloween protocol tips:
- If your street has a lot of other trick-or-treaters out on the street, then it’s a good sign and the perfect place for the little goblins to start
- In most cases, around 5:30 to 6:00 pm is the best time for the kids to head out in search of those treats. Make sure you keep an eye on them and tell them to only ring a doorbell or knock on a door once
- Remember that not everyone likes Halloween, so make sure your kids only go to houses with decorations out front or with the porch light on. These are usually a good sign that whoever lives in the house enjoys Halloween just as much as you do - and are just waiting to hand out some sweet treats to those spooky callers
Decorate your house
Now, onto the other side of the coin. If you’re in a generous treating mood this Halloween, make sure you really get into the swing of things with some hair-raising Halloween decorations. That’s the signal that lets those little ghouls know they are welcome to ring on your bell or knock on your door for some candy. Go all the way with a Jack-o-lantern at the front of the house. Or a simple - but giant - orange balloon will do the trick too.
Turn your house into a haunted house but make it trick-or-treater friendly. There are lots of fun ideas for you to spookify your house such as skull lights in your trees, tombstones, and witches on brooms. If you want some more spine-chilling ideas, check out Homes to Love. And don’t forget to encourage your neighbours to join in the fun too – maybe it’s time for a friendly Halloween decorating competition this year!
Get ready with those treats
Welcoming those little fiends needs a bit of a preparation. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re getting those treats ready for this coming Halloween:
- Make sure the lollies you’re giving away come in individual wrappers for hygiene purposes
- Don’t leave a bowl full of candies outside the house, or it won’t be equally distributed to those little monsters. It’s always best to hand them over yourself or have someone do it for you. Don’t forget to wear a mask and a pair of gloves!
- No to fruit, especially apples. There’s an urban legend about razor blades being inserted in apples during Halloween. It may not be true, but you certainly don’t want to spoil the occasion
Make it spooky! Make it fun!
If you’re a fan of Halloween, go ahead and enjoy. These preparation tips should help you make it spooky but fun. Of course, all those costumes, decorations and treats can be little tough on the hip pocket, so if you need some financial assistance to help you get through October 31st, we’re here to help. Just take a look at our cash loans from $1,000 to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, we can usually deposit the cash into your bank account within a few hours - so you can go ahead and plan the spookiest Halloween ever.