There are 4 times per year to buy bagged candy: the days after Valentine’s Day, the days after Easter, the days after Halloween, and the days after Christmas. Hershey, Nestle, Mars, Wonka, and other major candy companies all create special candy assortments to commemorate these holidays. Usually, the candy isn’t anything special, but the packaging makes it unique to the particular holidays. Beginning the day after the holiday, this candy is no longer marketable. It cannot be sold at full price because the packaging is outdated. It cannot be saved and resold the following year because it would become stale long before then. Starting on the day after Halloween (November 1), Halloween candy is sold at 1/2 price or otherwise discounted significantly.
Many stores are now offering Halloween candy at 50% off. In my area, Walmart, Kmart, Target, and Walgreens are good places to search. Readers in other parts of the country have told me the Kroger family stores also offer half price Halloween candy: Ralphs, King Soopers, City Market, Dillons, Fry’s, QFC Quality Food Centers, Baker’s, Owen’s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, and Pay Less Super Markets. Others have mentioned Cub Foods, Rainbow, Albertsons, Publix, Safeway/Von’s, Osco/Jewel, Cashwise/Coborns, A&P, CVS, and RiteAid. Basically, 1/2 price Halloween candy is likely to show up at any supermarket, drug store, or large discount retailer. You might have to do some searching, but a deal like this is worth it!
One more thing: if you’re going to take advantage of these half price Halloween candy sales, do so quickly. The “good stuff” always goes within a few days. Come early and you’ll find Kit Kats, Twix, Snickers, Milky Ways, Reese’s, Three Musketeers, and M&Ms for 50% off. Wait too long and there will be nothing left besides suckers and the goopy glop that nobody wants. If you’re a true CheapoLifer, half the fun is the hunt and finding the deal. Good luck finding half price Halloween candy!
