Decorating for Halloween? Plan Ahead to Stay Safe Save Money

As the first in the major holiday lineup of fall, Halloween provides one of the most fun and unique opportunities to decorate your home. This makes it easy to go overboard and end up with a huge energy bill or, even worse, a dangerous situation resulting from unsafe decorations. Here are some quick tips to help you celebrate this spooky holiday in a safe and efficient way.

Check Decorations Thoroughly Before Use

Many people re-use holiday decorates year after year. After spending 12 months in a damp basement, it’s likely that some of the décor has deteriorated and it’s important to check it before you put it up again this year. Make sure you check bulbs on lights and replace any that are burned out. Plug in decorations and check the wires thoroughly for shorts and note any other signs of damage. Toss anything that is even slightly suspicious and replace with fresh decorations.

Ditch the Flames

Halloween seems made for candles. From lighting up jack o’ lanterns to creating a spooky atmosphere on your porch for trick or treaters, candles are fun to decorate with but can also cause fires. This year, replace them with electric candles, flashlights, or glo-sticks. You’ll still get the creepy effect without the fire hazard.

Unplug Lights When Not in Use

Even if your lights are not turned on, they’re still sucking energy if they are plugged in. When not in use, unplug lights and other decorations that require electricity. You’ll save on your energy bill and reduce the chances of electrical fires or other damage.

Watch the Inflatables

Inflatables have become one of the go-to decorations for the holidays. From blow-up spiders to inflatable skeletons, inflatables seem to be on everyone’s list. As cool as they are, they also happen to be tough on the utility bill. If left on for several hours per day, one inflatable could cost you as much as $20 on your next electricity bill. If you must have inflatables, leave them on for only a limited amount of time per day.

Consider Decorations That Don’t Require Electricity

Making your own decorations can be a fun way to enjoy the holidays. Instead of buying a bunch of expensive decorations that need electricity, try focusing on homemade this year. Carve pumpkins, make a creepy haunted house out of cardboard boxes, or make skeletons from popsicle sticks. If you do buy from a store, try to focus on those decorations that won’t need to be plugged in.

As Halloween approaches, be mindful of decorations that could be dangerous or that will inflate your utility bill. If you have questions about how to decorate your home in a safe and energy-efficient manner, please get in touch. We’d love to help!