Copyright birminghammail
UK households are being urged to only give out individually wrapped sweets for Halloween. The warning comes amid the Cost of Living crisis, with data showing a Haribo Starmix 22-pack from Tesco now costs £3, up from £2.35 last year. Meanwhile, the price of chocolate on shop shelves climbed by 18.1% in the year to September, according to official figures. "Choose individually wrapped treats – they last longer, stay hygienic and reduce waste if they’re not all handed out,” says Zoe Morris, a savings expert from VoucherCodes. “Only buy sweets your household enjoys – that way, any leftovers won’t go to waste.” READ MORE Thousands of Blue Badge holders issued update over free bus travel “People think impressive Halloween decorations require expensive props from specialist shops, but some of the most effective scares come from simple materials you already have,” says Jessie Brooks, the product manager at the art kit website Davincified. “Hosting at home, or heading to a house party, can also be much cheaper than going out,” says James Andrews, a money expert at the website Be Clever With Your Cash. “Halloween is all about creativity,” says Andrews. “And with a little planning, you can enjoy all the thrills without giving your wallet a fright.” A 2019 study out of the UK found that 83% of materials used for Halloween costumes are made from non-recyclable plastic. “They’re basically destined for a landfill near you,” said Lexy Silverstein, sustainable fashion advocate. “I really challenge everyone this year to shop your own closet,” said Silverstein. “Last year, my friend went as Padme and Anakin with her partner, and this year I’m going as Padme and Anakin with my partner,” said Silverstein. “I’m just repurposing her costume from last year and part of my costume is rented.” “Every time I see a fake spiderweb drawn onto a window that is thrilling to me, because it looks great, it celebrates the holiday spirit, but it also eliminates a threat to birds, which is window collisions,” said Dustin Partridge, director of conservation and science at New York City Bird Alliance. “Painted spiderwebs or stickers can block out a reflective window and that can actually save birds.”
