Tips for Green Halloween

Going green for Halloween isn't hard or expensive. In fact, with a little creative thinking, you can actually SAVE some money. Here are my tips:

Decorate with nature! Gourds, pumpkins, corn, hay, mums, all found in nature, all beautiful green decorations. Or...
Pick up great second hand decorations. Check out Craigslist, Ebay, and (best yet) local consignment stores for some great festive decor.
Do the same for costumes! I have found all kinds of costumes for kids and adults on Craigslist recently and the consignment stores near us are running great specials.
If you can't find the costume, try making it (or asking/hiring someone). Handmade ensures that the costume is one of a kind and made out of love. It also prevents a lot of plastic packaging, processing, shipping, etc...
Get creative! (And save money!)x There are so many great ideas for costumes using things you have around your house. My husband has put on a Detroit Tigers shirt and had me draw on whiskers with eye liner. What about "Iron Chef" (wear a chef's hat and carry an iron), "Quarter Pounder" (a quarter in one hand a hammer in the other), "Freudian Slip" (iron on picture of Freud on slip), "Stick in the Mud" (wear all brown and put sticks on you. What are your ideas?
Think outside the bag of candy. Individual wrapping means lots of extra packaging and lots of extra impact. What about apples? Moneys? Popcorn balls? What are your ideas?
Pillow cases rock! You don't need a special Halloween bucket (often made of plastic). Grab a clean pillow case and hit the road. Extra bonus-they hold more!
Stay local! Try to stick close to home to do your candy collecting. This will prevent extra driving and help you get to know your neighbors better.