Tag: Halloween

Our Family’s Halloween Traditions

Posted on by Rodney Keener

Halloween is a big deal in our house. As a parent of a four-year-old, I’ve learned that the magic of the season is all about creativity, community, and a little bit of chaos (the good kind). Whether we’re planning a family costume, prepping for Trunk or Treat, or just looking for ways to make the most of the holiday without breaking the bank, here’s how we do Halloween — and how Shopkick helps us save, earn free rewards, and have a blast along the way.

1. The Family Costume (Dog included!)

Every year, our family picks a theme for our Halloween costumes — and yes, our dog is always part of the fun. Last year, we went full Jurassic Park for our preschool’s Trunk or Treat, complete with a dino suit for our son and a “park ranger” look for the adults (and a tiny T-Rex costume for our pup). For trick-or-treating, we switched it up with a Wizard of Oz theme — think Lion, Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and a very patient dog as Dorothy.

Tip: Shopkick makes it easy to earn free gift cards while shopping for costumes and decorations. Scan barcodes at stores like Target, Walmart, and Kroger, and rack up kicks (Shopkick’s reward points) for every purchase. It’s the best free app for turning Halloween shopping into free rewards!

halloween costumes family dog front yard-decorations

2. Trunk or Treat at Preschool

Our preschool’s Trunk or Treat is a highlight of the season. Each family decorates their car or SUV here in NJ with a theme — last year, our Jurassic Park setup was a hit, complete with inflatable dinosaurs and a park gate. It’s a safe, fun way for little ones to show off their costumes and collect treats.

Money-Saving Hack: Use Shopkick to find deals on candy, decorations, and even last-minute costume accessories through the online tab. The app’s “scan” feature lets you earn kicks just for checking out products in-store, and you can redeem those kicks for free stuff like Starbucks or Amazon gift cards.

halloween costumes trunk or treat

3. Trick-or-Treating in a Blocked-Off Neighborhood

On Halloween night, our neighborhood transforms. Streets are blocked off, porches are decked out, and we welcome around 300 trick-or-treaters! It’s a true community event, with families gathering, kids comparing costumes, and neighbors sharing treats (and sometimes beverages for the adults).

Pro Parent Tip: Stock up on candy early and use Shopkick to earn rewards on every grocery run. The app is perfect for busy shoppers and bargain hunters—scan your grocery receipt for free gift cards, and watch your kicks add up. It’s like getting free money when you shop!

halloween trick or treat candy kids

How Shopkick Makes Halloween Even Sweeter

  • Free Rewards: Earn kicks for walking into stores, scanning products, and making purchases. Redeem for free gift cards to your favorite retailers.
  • Best Free App: Shopkick is consistently ranked as one of the best apps to save money on groceries, costumes, and holiday essentials.
  • Seasonal Ideas: Check the app for seasonal deals, gift card offers, and creative ideas for making the most of every holiday moment.
  • Family-Friendly: Shopkick is easy to use for all ages—my son loves helping scan barcodes, and it’s a fun way to teach kids about saving and earning rewards.

(Psst… if you’ve made it this far, here’s a little secret — the hidden word is spooky. Keep it handy and comment on our Halloween post! 👻)

Our Favorite Halloween Money-Saving Tips

  1. Plan Your Costume Early: Use Shopkick to compare prices and earn rewards at stores like Target, Walmart, and Amazon.
  2. Shop Smart for Candy: Look for in-app deals and scan your grocery receipts for extra kicks.
  3. Decorate on a Budget: DIY decorations are fun for the whole family. Shopkick can help you save on craft supplies and seasonal décor.
  4. Make It a Family Affair: Get everyone involved in picking the theme, shopping for supplies, and earning rewards together. We love to go shopkicking to save for our Disney trip!

Ready to make your Halloween even more rewarding? Download Shopkick today and start earning free gift cards for every spooky, silly, and sweet moment this season!

How to Safely Celebrate Halloween

Posted on by Kick Writers

For many of us, Halloween is a holiday we look forward to all year long. It’s a chance to get creative, join together with friends and family to dress up, enjoy all of our favorite treats, and maybe attend a party of two. And, that’s before we even mention all of the fun that Halloween has in store for kids from costumes and school parties to parades and trick-or-treating. Needless to say, we are with you in searching for fun and easy ways to safely celebrate Halloween this year. So, we’re sharing five ways to celebrate Halloween from home!

Carve Pumpkins:

Aside from trick-or-treating, the most quintessential Halloween activity is definitely carving pumpkins. So, plan to purchase pumpkins just like you do every other year! Then choose your pattern or carve your pumpkin free-hand. You could even encourage a little friendly competition amongst family and friends and ask participants to virtually cast votes for their favorite designs. The winner gets a gift card to purchase their favorite treat! 

Decorate + Drive:

Similar to carving pumpkins, plan to decorate your house this year. Big and bold designs are always fun to see, and the neighbors in your community will love driving by to catch their own glimpse. On Halloween (or even before!) plan to drive through your town with your family to peek at all of the decorated homes. 

To make this idea a little more social, you might think about decorating your car for Halloween and meeting at a friend’s house for a drive-by Halloween parade. Your kids can even put on their costumes!

Make DIY Costumes:

This is definitely the year to dive into more involved projects at home, so think about creating your own Halloween costumes with your kids. Something as simple as a cardboard box can go a long way (and we all have plenty of those after shopping online throughout the year!). Then save your costumes to enjoy long after Halloween as you replenish your dress up box with new one-of-a-kind outfits for fun, imaginative play.

Do a Halloween Candy Scavenger Hunt: 

Candy is synonymous with Halloween, but trick-or-treating might not feel like the safest idea this year. So, purchase bags of your kids’ favorite Halloween treats and plan your own scavenger hunt (like an Easter egg hunt!). Hide candy inside your home or outside in your yard and encourage your kids to dress up while they search for their treats. You can even set a timer to see who can find the most candy the fastest! Post hunt, unwind with chili, candy, and a Halloween movie. 

Watch a Halloween Film:

As we mentioned briefly above, plan to watch a Halloween movie! We love enjoying a Halloween classic like “Hocus Pocus”, “Casper”, or “The Adams Family”. Maybe this is the year when you gather for a movie marathon and watch more than one! Plan to pop popcorn and enjoy your favorite candy or dipped apples. If the weather allows, you can even project your family’s Halloween movie choice onto a sheet or screen in your backyard. 

How are you planning to safely celebrate Halloween this year? Share your ideas with our community on Facebook!

How to Celebrate Halloween in Three Easy Steps

Posted on by Kick Writers

What is your favorite Halloween memory? Whether it was a character, animal, dream career, or favorite food, I loved choosing my costume every year. I loved dressing up, marching in school parades, and going trick-or-treating every year. Because I have such fun memories, Halloween is still one of my favorite holidays. I always add a new décor piece or two to my collection, I never miss the chance to go on a haunted hayride, and I love throwing Halloween parties for friends.

The idea of prepping for a holiday is especially enjoyable, so I thought I would share how you can prep and save for Halloween with Shopkick in three simple steps.

Add Décor:

Carving, or at least purchasing, pumpkins in honor of Halloween is always a given! Rather than creating a freehand design, I keep a kit on hand filled with templates to make carving fun and easy. I originally purchased my kit from Walmart, and I know they still stock them. Even if this is the only festive piece of décor you have, you and your home will certainly be in the Halloween spirit.

If you want to take your décor up a notch, consider purchasing dish towels and a new candy bowl for your neighborhood’s trick-or-treaters from Kohls.com. Then swing by your local T.J.Maxx and Marshall’s to pick up a few new decorative items, like pieces for your mantle, doorstep, kitchen, or even your kids’ rooms. Another great tip is to purchase a new fall scented candle from Yankee Candle. Not only will the scents feel festive for Halloween, but you can continue to light your candle throughout the season.

Make sure your Shopkick app is open while you shop for your décor with all of the retailers I mentioned because you will earn kicks with every purchase!

Purchase a Costume:

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or for your kids, costume shopping is always one of the most fun aspects of Halloween! Now, shopping has become much easier because so many retailers offer costumes online, plus you can earn kicks on your costume purchases when you shop with Shopkick.

Walmart.com has quite a selection every year, and you can easily purchase a few costumes in different sizes so you, your partner, and your kids can try every piece on at home. If your kids love playing dress up, think about ordering their costume one size larger, so they can continue enjoying it for months to come!

If you’re looking for other options for yourself or simply hoping to find accessories, Kohls.com, Marshall’s, and T.J.Maxx always offer budget friendly finds to add to your outfit. Jet.com also has great fashion finds, and Ulta is the perfect place for Halloween ready makeup and hair supplies.

Entertain with Ease:

When you’re throwing a party, the best thing to do is purchase everything in bulk. I love ordering from Boxed.com with Shopkick because I’m able to earn kicks while ordering everything from beverages and snacks to household essentials and candy (of course!). Rather than pulling out any of your dinnerware, use paper and plastic. Your guests are attending your party because they want to spend time with you and each other, and I guarantee they will agree with the ease of your party.

For an added dose of fun, book a visit to a haunted house or a ride on a haunted hayride on Groupon through Shopkick! Tickets are typically less expensive when you purchase them through Groupon, and you will earn kicks towards free gift cards. Regardless of the price, haunted houses and hayrides are always worth it. There’s just something about a fun spook that enriches relationships and makes everyone laugh!

Whether your Halloween plans are simple or elaborate, I know you will have even more fun this season because you’re earning kicks and saving thanks to Shopkick. Enjoy making your memories!

QUIZ: Which movie icon should you be for Halloween?

Posted on by Kick Writers

Before we transition to the gift-giving season, we here at Shopkick are ready to celebrate Halloween — but are you? Here to help with some iconic costume ideas, is a quiz. We hope it gets your creative juices going.

 

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