Anyone Else Dreading Halloween?

[DMZdogs]

I'm wondering if I should put up a sign on the door saying, "Sorry, but we don't believe in giving sugary crap to children and can't really afford to give you all fruit, so try the next house." ??

How can I keep doorbell ringers and knockers away from our door? I don't want the dogs to be driven mad and I don't want to constantly explain, "I'm vegan, I won't buy anything that has animal in it and I believe in eating healthy, so I won't buy sugary crap even if it is vegan and I make $11,000 a year and cannot afford to buy the neighborhood decent snacks."

[FitChick99]

Turn all the lights off in your house. Kids don't go to houses that don't have their porch light on.
You could give out non-food items too, if you want to join in on the fun. Things like stickers or pencils or glow sticks or spider rings--I think I've seen some suggestions in another thread. Those are usually super cheap.

[cstadt]

What about sugar-free lollies? or any other kind of sugar-free stuff..

If not, +1 for turning out the lights
You'd probably get a few stray knocks but that's it

edit: http://www.greenopia.com/USA/news/15100/9-30-2008/Best-Healthy-Halloween-Candy-EVER!

[Trent Steele]

I say you scare the bajeebus outta the first few kids and then grab the kid in the under-efforted sarah palin costume that his parents thought would be hilarious and string him up in effigy on the porch.

The only people coming a-knocking after that is the popo. :notvegan:

[MrFalafel]

Yes! One year, my brother and I did up the house with so much scary stuff like weird lighting and dummy 'treat or treaters' dismembered on the landing along with really scary sound effects and music playing that the kids just passed by our house in fear. I think we only got one or two people brave enough to come up to the door and even then, my brother had his hand bandaged up like a mummy and would just slowly slide his arm out of a crack in the door with candy palm side up. When the kids would reach for the candy he'd yell 'Raa!' and toss the candy in the air, causing the kids to scream and run like mad. Other kids saw this and gave our house a miss, too.

[chryssiie718]

We just leave the porch light off. Trick or treaters have become increasingly scarce over the last few years anyway around here.

[Brandon]

The last time I actively tried to help an old landlord give out candy, we sat all night w. the porch light on and didn't ever get a knock.

Trick or treating seems to be becoming a thing of the past. I think a lot of parents take their kids to "organized" trick or treats at malls or whatever. I know the zoo in Oklahoma City has a thing every year where kids dress up and go trick or treat around the zoo, play games, etc etc.

[Gita]

I never give out candy. I've lived here 7 years and have never had a trick-or-treater. Most kids (usually the younger type) are with groups who have adult supervision. A note, or blocking your porch or steps off can say "no candy" (crime scene tape is very off putting).

[31770]

I'm wondering if I should put up a sign on the door saying, "Sorry, but we don't believe in giving sugary crap to children and can't really afford to give you all fruit, so try the next house." ??

How can I keep doorbell ringers and knockers away from our door? I don't want the dogs to be driven mad and I don't want to constantly explain, "I'm vegan, I won't buy anything that has animal in it and I believe in eating healthy, so I won't buy sugary crap even if it is vegan and I make $11,000 a year and cannot afford to buy the neighborhood decent snacks."

I'm thinking having your house egged isn't very vegan...

[Nickle00]

How about giving out erasers, pencils, those little boxes of raisins, stickers, or something else along those lines?

[derwenna]

Go out somewhere and take your dogs with you! I always try and be out on Hallowe'en.

[Poppy]

My son came home one year with a slice of pizza in his bag. Just tossed in there. :brood: Don't do that. :no:

[Nickle00]

My son came home one year with a slice of pizza in his bag. Just tossed in there. :brood: Don't do that. :no:

This literally made me laugh out loud. Thanks Poppy :) I needed that :lol:

[Fromper]

Give out cheap toothbrushes. :p

--Fromper
:juggle:

[dani_cat]

My son came home one year with a slice of pizza in his bag. Just tossed in there. :brood: Don't do that. :no:

That was hilarious. I needed a good laugh. Over at Sam's Club they have a big bucket of already wrapped baby pretzels for halloween. It cost about $5.86 or around there. I'm thinking about buying that to give away to the little goblins.

Or if you have a Dollar Store that sells cheap party gifts would also be good. Just put it in a bowl and put it in front of your door and they will grab it themselves.

Or just turn off your lights.

[jenna]

we've just turned our outside lights off when we haven't done anything for halloween. the house is usually dark anyway because i'm sitting in the family room watching scary movies.

i don't think it'll be as busy around us this time because the guy that would decorate and give rides on his tractor/trailer thing doesn't live around here anymore. people always came for that.

[Doktormartini]

I don't dread it but I thinik it's stupid. No kids come to our house really which good because handing out unhealthy foods to kids isn't cool in my opinion. Maybe I should hand out apples or something?

The original intent of the holiday (as with almost all holidays) changed and now it's all commercial and about money and candy so...

[Bunzz]

I always leave a note on the door saying not to ring the door as I have very small children in bed :baby:. I have never had a problem but I live in the UK and halloween's not as big over here. I still put a sign on my door even though my children are now 7 and 10......shhhh, don't tell anyone!!!

[vigilant20]

My new neighborhood has a no porch light - don't knock policy, which I'm grateful for. In my old neighborhood I just hung out in a back room or basement and kept the rest of the lights off so no one would stop by thinking someone was home.

[PTree15]

Go out somewhere and take your dogs with you! I always try and be out on Hallowe'en.

This is what I do, especially if I'm off work. I usually work nights, so it's only a problem every few years or so.

[Shamandura]

How about giving out erasers, pencils, those little boxes of raisins, stickers, or something else along those lines?

+1 This is what I do. You can always get cheap little nicknaks and things at dollar stores or Target. I remember liking "stuff" like that anyway, especially cute tiny erasers I could take to school the next day.

[synergy]

I am doing the opposite of dreading halloween.

I love going over to my dad's neighboorhood where everyone knows everyone. I take my 3 brothers and sisters trickertreating (they're 10), and while they get candy, I get treats like hot chocolate and bailey's from the neighboors.

[SomebodyElse]

I've always liked Halloween, and trick-or-treaters, even the waaaaaay too old teenagers with a cheap white sheet on, just out mooching. They make me laugh.

I don't get any where I live now, though. But I still have a spider web out, and a pirate skull that flashes colored lights through his eye sockets, and I'll probably be getting a pumpkin or two pretty soon.

[juno]

Yes! One year, my brother and I did up the house with so much scary stuff like weird lighting and dummy 'treat or treaters' dismembered on the landing along with really scary sound effects and music playing that the kids just passed by our house in fear. I think we only got one or two people brave enough to come up to the door and even then, my brother had his hand bandaged up like a mummy and would just slowly slide his arm out of a crack in the door with candy palm side up. When the kids would reach for the candy he'd yell 'Raa!' and toss the candy in the air, causing the kids to scream and run like mad. Other kids saw this and gave our house a miss, too.

That's really funny. :D


I'm wondering if I should put up a sign on the door saying, "Sorry, but we don't believe in giving sugary crap to children and can't really afford to give you all fruit, so try the next house." ??

How can I keep doorbell ringers and knockers away from our door? I don't want the dogs to be driven mad and I don't want to constantly explain, "I'm vegan, I won't buy anything that has animal in it and I believe in eating healthy, so I won't buy sugary crap even if it is vegan and I make $11,000 a year and cannot afford to buy the neighborhood decent snacks."

The way I see it, you have 3 options: turn off the lights, go out, or give away non-food items.

[ripvanfish]

I thought the toothbrush idea was pretty good. :D