MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Halloween is a week from Monday, and the BBB is offering some money saving tips as consumers gear up to celebrate.
According to the National Retail Federation, people are expected to spend up to $10.6 billion on Halloween. Of the respondents in the survey, 67% planned to buy candy, 51% planned to buy decorations and 47% will get costumes to wear.
The BBB said those watching a family budget shouldn’t be intimidated by spending and that there are ways to save money on the holiday.
The BBB recommends:
- Look around your house and closet- there are sometimes materials for the perfect costume or decoration right under your nose.
- Rent a costume: if you’re only going to wear it once, the idea of a costume can be wasteful, renting a costume will save money and space. BBB recommends that those renting carefully inspect rental agreements.
- Always check the return policies: Seasonal items can carry a shorter shelf life than other purchases, the BBB recommends checking how long you have to return the item to get the full refund online or in person. The BBB said buying a bunch of things with the intent to return them after October 31 is fraud.
- Be smart shopping online: Make sure you are using a secure browser for shopping with HTTPS at the beginning. Look up the website’s privacy policy and contact information. If information is not clearly listed, or they only have an email as the point of contact, look elsewhere. Use your credit card when ordering online.
- Inquire…