We’re not tricking you about that. Halloween spending last year hit a record $12.2 billion dollars! As you may know, Halloween was quite a different holiday millennia ago. Known as Samhain at that time, it represented the end of Summer and a day when it was believed the barrier between the living and dead was thinnest, so spirits (good and evil) were free to wander the earth. Dressing up in costumes and offering food was a way of placating the potential wrath of any nasty ones.

These days, Halloween is decidedly less scary and more fun, and no longer is it just about wandering the block to trick-or-treat for a couple of hours. Many use it as an anchor for a full season of fun events for adults and kids alike. They view it like a hall pass – permission to escape the real world for a day.

Have fun and be safe as you do your own celebration at the end of this month, and while you’re handing out treats, think about lending a hand to someone you know who might have to ditch the celebrations entirely because they need to sell their home for one reason or another. For many, that can be a truly scary prospect with a monstrous to-do list and horrifying uncertainty surrounding timelines, finances, and things to do. It can be quite a trick to get everything to work, but we can help!