It's that time again. How many do you get? What do you hand out? What "rules" do you have?

For me, I used to get a good amount. I gave out bite sized bars. My rule was for the teens. When they came to the door before 10 pm, I told them to come back around 11 pm and they could have the candy I had left. It worked well as I had lots of goodies for the little ones (even those whose parents got off work late) and I wasn't left with candy I didn't need to eat. And the teens got to enjoy themselves without being reprimanded for being too old to play.

About 20 years ago, I stopped getting anyone. Not one tricker or treater. After about 5 years, I stopped buying candy.

Then a few years ago, I had two little girls come. I had no candy. I started trashing my pantry looking for anything. I found a couple bags of licorice and some life saver rolls. I gave it all to them and told them if they came back the next year, I'd have good stuff for them. They have come back each year since but no one else. This year, I made goodie packs using water bottles. Inside is a full size candy bar, m&ms and tootsie roll midgies plus a few waterproof stickers to decorate their water bottles with. I made 8 of them.

I don,t hand out anything. The Halloween Grinch! I don't want the kids climbing up the steps to knock on the door so I put trash cans in front of the steps to block the entry I know that sounds mean but I do not want to be bothered after working all day. Last year the weather was nasty-chilly and windy so there weren't too many kids out except the die hard trick or treaters.

If it falls on a weekend I can get 50 to 60 , during the week under 30. No sidewalks or street lights in the area so once it gets dark you do not see many. I turn porch light off by 10. I give out reg. size candy bars or whatever boxes of candy Amazon has on sale during prime days.

your too nice, Bob!

I stopped buying candy ages ago cause nobody comes up to my place. It's set far back from the street so you have to walk behind hedges and up a long dark walkway to get to the door, so I think most kids just aren't comfortable. Which is fine by me. I don't entirely want to participate anyways.

I used to buy candy just in case, but then stopped.

That's a good number Bob! I miss getting a lot. Most of the houses in the neighborhood have fenced their front yards so it's just not worthwhile for kids to come around for the few accessible houses.

TK, I got tired of all that candy sitting around the house afterwards when the kids stopped showing up.

I remember how much fun it was to trick or treat as a kid. I just don't want to deny them of that joy. It's one night a year to be "put out", I can handle that.

Used to get a lot more but now high school aged do not go out anymore and they do trunk or treat for the young kids now.

We moved in a few years ago. it was during Covid and we didn't turn our light on so we got no kids. We noticed a few kids on the street the past few years so we got some candy and will put our light on. Hopefully it will be gone so I won't be tempted.

Covid changed a few more trick or treating rules, but there are areas where country kids can go into town and do the old fashioned trick or treating within a small controlled area - the adults get more kicks out of dress up than the kids do, so there is up to 2 weeks of parties and costumes in safe areas, we don't hand candy out - this neighborhood is deeper country, dark and aging itself along so the kids are less and less.

Our neighborhood is half acre lots, and it can get tiring walking around. We had very few make it all the way up our dark court. (streetlight on the corner but none up near our houses in the end) Last year we left the porch light off and went out to play pickleball. Probably leave the light off again. Maybe buy a bag, fill a bowl, and trust them to share.

It could be fun if you can sit out with neighbors, have some beverages, and let the kids walk by. But I am at work and won't be home till 8:30.

Maybe when I am retired, I will dress up, visit the neighborhood party, and hand out candy.

I'd love to do a block movie night on Halloween with a proector and big screen set up out front. But with everyone fencing up their homes, it just isn't really worth it.

I don't get any children trick or treating, as parents here are paranoid about whatever latest urban myth is going around---razor blades in apples, meth in candy bars(!!), marijuana in cookies. Poor kids who never have any freedom to just be kids. I did, however, buy full-size candy bars just in case any kids are turned loose, and knowing that my own sweet tooth is ready and waiting for the leftover Snickers bars!

That's such a shame. I remember as a kid, the basic rule was: if the wrapper is opened, don't eat it. All candy corn, mounds and almond joys were poisoned so they got eaten by my dad.

Otherwise, just go have fun!

So Halloween was a bust. We got one kid Ring the doorbell, so next year we will save money and calories and not buy candy.

someone just posted he gives out drinks of some kind- kid friendly of course. especially as it was very warm here last night, I bet they needed a drink. and he isn't stuck with candy to eat.
Drinks would be heavy to carry though.

We had 32, next door neighbor had 89

I had about 25 but on the blocks with more houses you could see a lot of kids. So I guess I will be bringing some candy to work next Monday. Think i will keep a few bags of peanut butter m&m's for myself.

I got one family of 4 kids - one in a stroller. Not the same family that has been coming the past few years. So my "stock candy for 8 kids with an extra big bag of tootsie roll midgies" worked out well. I'll eat the midgies over the course of the winter.

Fortunately, I am getting blood work done today BEFORE I eat the other four candy bars and m&ms.

Not one child came to my door. They were all at organized parties, I guess, or maybe their parents drive them to a posh neighborhood. I would even welcome an egg thrown at my house, just to know that childhood is alive and well! So I have a hangover from the 4 Snickers bars I ate last night, with many more to go. . .

Never, never never have I had trick or treaters. I wouldn't even know what that's like. (Except when I used to be one and even then I was only taken to family members houses) We live in the middle of nowhere on a dirt road with no lights or decor.