​4. Fill them up
Rather than a party style tea which involves lots of prep cutting up sandwiches and slicing fruit you might find it easier to cook a filling meal such as pasta or wraps where the children can choose their own fillings. Something warm to see them through Trick or Treating and carb heavy to neutralise the sweet haul to come.

5. Trick or Treating
The standard etiquette is that if there is a lit pumpkin in the doorway then the household is open to Trick or Treaters. Depending on where you live, how popular Halloween is near you and how well you know your neighbours you may want to just visit a few houses that you know and forewarn those neighbours so they know to expect you. 

Remember to take your own pumpkin in once you run out of treats or if you don’t want the door knocking once the children are in bed.

6. Treat yourself
Put them to bed, hope for a lie in after all the excitement and pray they got something worth pinching in the Trick or Treat haul.

When it comes to putting together a great looking party on a budget the 3 main tips are to Plan Ahead, get Extra Mileage out of everything you buy and to Get Crafty.
 
Plan Ahead
Invariably like most things in life if you leave it to the last minute then throwing money at the problem is probably the only option. If however you have your theme organised in plenty of time you can keep an eye out for anything that works with the theme as you go and are more likely to spot a bargain, have a flash of inspiration or have someone offer to lend you something.
Have a good look around in the sales prior to your party for anything that could be used as decorations or party bag fillers, I’m well known for buying all my kids’ clothes in the sales at least a year in advance and apply the same logic to birthday presents and party bits too! If you spot a favourite store doing items in your theme then keep checking back on their website at sale time, often stores you wouldn’t consider for party bag items might have one great piece hugely reduced. I’ve recently found dinosaur print aprons, ballet print bags, wooden bracelet sets, washbags, umbrellas and lots of other items which would be great favours all at £1-5 and generally 70+% off from places like Cath Kidston, Tyrrell Katz, JoJo Maman Bebe and GLTC.
 
Double up, make your party props do double duty
If you can buy anything for an activity that then becomes the party favour then even better. For example if you’re having a superhero or princess party then one activity could be to decorate your own superhero mask or princess wand that the guests then take home or if you need equipment such as aprons or rolling pins for a baking party then send them home as party favours.

Get Crafty
Raid the house for any relevant toys that could be used or anything in the colours of your decorations that might coordinate (maybe decorative boxes, ribbon, photo frames)

​​Any greetings cards to match your theme could go in a picture frame (try Ikea or Poundshops for cheap frames) as a decoration and you can still send the cards afterwards (just don’t lose the envelope!).

Buy your themed Thank You card before the party and frame one or a collection to put on the party bag table to display a ‘Thank You” message, use the pack of cards after the party as your Thank You notes.

Corodinating or themed wrapping paper could be used as a table runner to brighten a plain paper tablecloth and if you are having a dinosaur, sport or animal themed party you could find off cuts of artificial turf to cut as placemats or a table runner.
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Get your children to draw pictures on the pathway or drive with chalk to lead guests to the front door, cut out a template before to help them. For example they could draw crowns for a Princess party, paw prints for an animal themed party, a treasure map for a pirate party.

​If you have an easel or chalkboard use it for a birthday message on arrival or for guests leaving, message ideas include “CHOO CHOO, Sam is 2” (train party) or “Thanks for stomping by”, complete with a dinosaur drawing. You could also add a picture your child has drawn or use the personalised stickers in your Humble Hostess pack.

​All our boxes come with a sheet of personalised stickers which you could use to seal the envelopes on your invitations and thank you cards, use on your own party bags, use to seal clear plastic bags of treats to take home, buy large flat round lollipops and stick in the centre to add to the party bags or as decoration. If you are feeling really crafty then buy paper luggage labels, attach a sticker and use as place settings or tie onto party bags or going home presents.

Good luck and remember to save a few pennies for a well earned cold drink at the end of the party!