Packing Halloween: Do's and Don'ts {From my Calendar}

Unless you are running a haunted house, packing up Halloween is usually quite simple. Here is a quick check list of things you will want to be sure to pack for next year:

• Children's holiday artwork - you will be surprised how much they cherish these when they are pulled from the box next year.
• pumpkin cutters, extra patterns for pumpkins
• Leftover tea light candles that are still usable
• Toys and small items that can be used instead of candy next year
• Holiday magazines
• Decorations
• Candy buckets/bags - I love the collapsible pumpkins because they store so easily
• Photos of everyone dressed up in costume if your storage is heated. If your storage is not heated I suggest you start a small Holiday photo box to be kept indoors in a dry location.

What NOT to pack

• Costumes! Especially the big plush type unless you are certain that someone will use them next year. Part of the fun each year is coming up with an original costume. There is some value in storing pirate hats, angel wings, and other small accessories, but you may find that a dress up box in a child's room will put these things to better use.
• Clutter: Make sure to go through the box entirely and rid it of clutter, you will thank yourself next year.
• Candy, it does not keep well from year to year.
• Anything you do not really love. Have an ugly decoration that you really hate, now might be the time to toss it. 

Make sure to label your boxes with the holiday and number of boxes ie. "halloween box 1 of 3" And keep it somewhere easily accessible so you are easily able to add any forgotten items or things you find in the halloween clearance sales over the next few days.

Also, you might consider making a master Halloween list with likes and dislikes about the holiday to be reviewed before next halloween. For instance you might remind yourself to rent "Casper The Friendly Ghost" if you have children. Or to look in the paper the weeks before halloween for the dates a haunted house will be selling tickets.

Have more suggestions? Post a comment, I would love to hear them!

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