Fairfax, VA - October 1, 2009 — Halloween will be here soon, but don't let the ghosts and goblins trick you into spending more than you can afford says the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA).

"Halloween spending definitely falls under the 'want' category of a spending plan," said Dave Jones, president, AICCCA. "Consumers must first take care of the needs of their family before they commit money to the wants."

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), consumers have already come to that conclusion. A survey conducted by NRF says that consumers are planning to spend $56.31 on Halloween this year, down from $66.54 last year. AICCCA offers these tips to make your Halloween fun, but affordable:

• Satisfy trick-or-treaters with the jingle of coins. Augment your candy bowl with pennies and you will be able to hand out less candy and still keep them happy.



• Go green with costumes. Take a hint from the "reduce, reuse, recycle" mantra and scour your closets for ways to dress up without buying anything new. Trade with neighbors or friends or brighten up an old costume with new trim.



• Do the same with decorations. Rather than buying something new, take inventory in your attic or garage. Design a new layout from what you have done in the past with all the things you have accumulated over the years. If you really want to buy something, consider a pumpkin or two late in the month that can do double duty at Thanksgiving.



• Pass on the haunted house and fall festival. With Halloween on Saturday this year, treat yourself to a Halloween film night of your own with just your family or a few close friends. Pop some popcorn and rent your favorite classic to watch - dressed in an old costume, of course!

If you need financial help, a qualified AICCCA member office can help get your financial life back on track. Call 866-703-8787 or visit www.aiccca.org to find an office to serve you.