Money and Halloween

I would never give money. In among all the littlies and pre teens, we have a number of older children most years. They never turn their noses up at sweets, but if anything, they are a tad greedier than the smaller kids! But, I have to say that, on the whole, the youngsters who have called at my door have been unfailingly polite. When they stop being, I will pull the plug on Halloween callers at Chez Duster.

Once money changes hands it becomes 'begging' doesn't it? We don't open the door ever since some of the older teens started knocking in horrific masks etc.

I would never give money. We tend to get little ones with parents, and give a wrapped biscuit along a KitKat line. Then if any are left over they don't go to waste, we're not big sweet eaters!

I've never had trick or treaters at my door

Fortunately

I love to see the little ones, I pretend to be frightened, and compliment them on their outfits. I have a bag of fun size treats that they can choose from.
I do, however, object to the teens who have made absolutely no effort at all to dress up. I do offer them a treat (I wouldn't like to think what their 'trick' would be) but I think they feel a bit hard done by!

Chocs only here

Nope, would never think of giving money. Love seeing the little ones dressed up and always have a bowl full of sweets ready. If older children come round, they get sweets the same, I always have a chat with them about their outfits. Never had any tricks or unpleasantness.

I think it is fairly common place locally that if there is a jack o lantern or other Halloween decoration on display in a window/ porch etc that that house is prepared for Trick or treaters. Only ever had kids closely shadowed by parents! Would NOT give out cash!

I'm glad it's not just me re not giving out money. We usually have small bags of sweets for the little ones but may buy mini choccies for the older children.
Things change so quickly I just wasn't sure if giving money was common practice now. Thanks for the replies
- very helpful.

I have just had 8 little 5 Year old girls in here who are guising after a Halloween party arranged by my son and daughter in law. They all had to do something, sing or tell a joke, and then could pick some sweets. As a nod to healthy eating, I drew pumpkin faces on satsumas with a Sharpie and made them take one each even when they said they didn't like them. It was delightful. I don't give money. I tend to be old school. ?

Just a thought and sill probably get shouted down, when the teenagers say trick or treatyou say trick and YOU do do something horrible? Just a thought

Wen I was growing up a handful of monkey nuts was always welcome, but these days they're a no-no. When did we start developing so many allergies? Our guisers get a couple of fun size treats and 20p (though my son says that's not much these days)

Haha. Hubby and I are away to stay in a posh hotel on Halloween night. No trick or treaters there. Of course my three little grandchildren will trick or treat, but only to neighbours who's children also do it.

Never money. Sweets take it or leave it.Horrible American thing any way.

I dressed up as a witch one year and handed them a bowl of pink worms adorned with plastic spiders ( food dyed spaghetti) when the kids looked aghast, after I had eaten a few, one or two dared, but I gave the reluctant ones chocolates

I'm giving finger torches this year. I'm not a huge fan of sweets, and I'd NEVER give money. My daughter says I'm one of THOSE houses :P

I have a small stack of £1 coins at the ready....just in case any guisers appear but never again will I go to the trouble of making up 20+ cellophane bags filled with treats and tied with orange and black curling ribbon just to be left with every single one of them. I was eating milky ways and chocolate buttons through to Xmas!

I always have one of those big containers of Halloween sweets and lollies ready. I have lots of little ones and sometimes with Mum's. Also quite a few teenagers with scary masks. Often they are looking after the younger ones...this is a small village though so I do know most of them. Never give money.

We still have a child young enough to go out trick or treating herself. DH takes her out and I stay home to hand out sweets to the children that knock here. Sweets only though, would never give money, although our daughter has occasionally come home with the odd 10 or 20p amongst the sweets in previous years.

No I only give sweets and if the older ones look as if there going to trick me I just say oh say hello to your mum for me they think twice about doing it lol

I have a tea light in a pumpkin I have carved, on the front porch, children are welcome, and get sweets, NO money.

I was expecting trick or treaters tonight, as it is the weekend nearest to Hallowe'en but haven't had a single knock. Maybe they are waiting for the correct night to come around. I do hope so - I am fully stocked up on e-numbers!!

I do get irritated when I hear/read people saying that it is a newfangled American thing. It most certainly is not. 50 odd years ago, when I grew up in Scotland, Hallowe'en was a MASSIVE event. ALL the kids in our village used to dress up and go out guising.

I kind of shudder a bit to think back on it now, but we rarely ever had an adult with us, and we used to knock at practically everyone's door. if they were "hauding halleeen" (which translates into "holding Hallowe'en lol), they would bring us into their homes, where we had to to a "party piece" (song, dance, joke etc) and were rewarded with monkey nuts (always), toffee apples, tablet or if we were unbelievably lucky, 6d)

It was a fantastic night. We'd never have DARED threaten anyone with a trick or do anything against them. Back then, nearly every adult knew who the child's parents were, and would have no hesitation in telling them. And you'd get into some serious trouble for cheeking an adult.

Sigh - different times altogether.

It definitely wasn't a thing down in the south of country 50 years ago. Was just something that didn't quite happen.
Was happy to go out with kids more recently as an organised thing on our road, but do not like what it's become. And yes it has become Americanised,

when I was a kid it was always a mix of money, nuts and sweets at most houses, and the games included money too (apple bobbing had coins at the bottom for those brave enough to put whole head in) But my kids have NEVER received money from anyone, nowadays it's been sweets but increasingly trinkets or glow sticks instead of edibles (teal pumpkin movement).

I think money for trick or treating is a bit outdated just from my personal experiences of when I was a kid vs now taking my own kids out.

Teenagers love the sweets BTW, my local ones go straight for the sweets and leave he tat, younger kids prefer tat and glowey things