Go Banking Rates

Halloween is near and this holiday is a favorite for both children and adults. For countless years, many homes in suburban neighborhoods were set on competing for the title of "spookiest." Good spirited fun is still in swing in 2009, except that more people are dedicated to the art of being crafty and making their own decorations instead of paying for the props.

There are tons of ideas for saving money on Halloween decorations that if done now, can provide you with spare cash, perfect for sticking into a high interest savings account. Instead of buying tons of future landfill bound items, families can bond over the following decorating and budget friendly ideas:

Head to the Dollar Store

Cost: $1 per item
Check out your dollar store where they too are cramming their shelves with holiday goodies. From orange and black balloons, crepe paper, rope and twine for nooses and toy spiders ghoulish goodies abound.

Use Quilt Batting for Cobwebs

Cost: $7 a bag
Make spooky cobwebs out of quilt batting! Craft stores carry this product by the boat loads and when stretched and draped around your home the material makes perfect cobwebs.

Hang Out at the Pumpkin Patch

Cost: $7-$10
Take the kids to the local pumpkin patch where for a set admission fee all the pumpkins and gourds that you can carry home and display around your house. Admission fees vary upon farm and area.

Make tombstones from cardboard

Cost: Free
Convert your empty cardboard boxes into tombstone cut outs for your lawn most everyone has boxes and magic markers laying around their homes.

Make Paper Mache Art Projects

Cost: $10
Those balloons you bought at the dollar store also make excellent molds for paper mache art projects such as long creepy snakes and scary pumpkins. All you need to provide is flour, water and newspaper and some acrylic paints and brushes for decorating.

Rent Halloween-themed Movies

Cost: Free
Visit your local library to check out movies perfect for showing at your Halloween gathering. Whether you want to play "Young Frankenstein" "Halloween" or classic monster thrillers, there are bound to be treasures on your local shelves.

Get Some Mood Lighting

Cost: $3
Tinted light bulbs can fit into any conventional lighting product (just double check wattage compatibility) and whether you choose blood red or trippy blue light, the mood will be instantly set.

Make Use of Food Coloring

Cost: $2
Festive and frightening meals are just a color away as with just a couple of drops of your favorite colors. Even standard macaroni and cheese can become a devilish delight.

Don't Water Those Flowers

Cost: Free
Only during Halloween are dead flowers are welcome addition to set the mood and local graveyards are the perfect place to find appropriate options as the grounds are cleared weekly.

In life, experiences, not material possessions, will provide the greatest memories for the entire family. Why waste your hard earned cash on decorations that can only be used once a year and collect dust the rest of the time. By taking all that extra cash you saved and safely storing it in interest bearing savings accounts, only the season, not your finances, will have you properly and rightfully spooked!

With such a frightening year for finances, we thought it only appropriate to feature the blingin'-est costumes.Whether you've lost a lot in the Recession or found Lady Luck on your side - here's our picks for the best finance-themed Halloween costumes:

1. Golddigger

   The perfect "career" option if you're surviving a layoff or took a beating in the market this year.

   

2. Investment Banker Bum

   An easy last-minute costume that makes a clever commentary on the financial state of the nation.
   

3. Money Flusher

   A toilet costume made even more appropriate with "NASDAQ" scrawled on the seat and money overflowing from the bowl.
   

4. Bank Robber

   You may have considered becoming one this year already and if you look like her, there's probably plenty who will be happy to oblige a little robbery.
   

5. Mount Rushmore

   For when you're feeling short on dead presidents in your life.
   

6. Pimp

   There's always this option for the jobless.
   

7. Matthew Lesko

   He's the man behind the "Free Government Money" books a.k.a. "That Question Mark Guy."
   

8. Donald Trump

   Be a real jerk and tell your 1 in 10 already unemployed friends, "you're fired!"
   

9. Money Bag

   Whose baby isn't one?
   

10. Credit Card

    The perfect costume for when you want to express your happiness over the new credit card regulations.
    

11. Robin Hood

    Who doesn't love a guy who steals from the rich to give to the poor?
    

12. Money

    There's no costume more money than money, unless your name is Bill.
    

13. Blingin' Gangsta Rapper

    You can always fool people into believing that you're not slumming with a few CZs and flossin' your swagger.
    

14. Uncle Sam

    A fitting way to celebrate our tax credits, like the soon-to-end first-time homebuyers tax credit.
    

15. Lady Luck

    We all could use a little from this maiden.
    

16. and... if splurging on a costume seems a bit too fiscally irresponsible, you can settle for this shirt:

    

If you filed an extension for your taxes back in April, your extension deadline has rolled around. You and approximately 10 million others will have to file your taxes by Thursday, October 15, 2009 to avoid penalties.

But according to tax preparation companies like H&R Block, filing your 2008...

There are thousands of investment instruments to choose from, including interest baring checking accounts, savings accounts, stocks, bonds, commodities, mutual funds hedge funds . Each type of investment will appeal to a different class of individual depending their tolerance for risk, length of...

According to new data from the Federal Reserve, consumers are dumping their credit cards and slowing down on other types of borrowing at a faster-than-expected pace. In August alone, consumers cut $11.8 billion in borrowing, which represents a 5.8 percent annual rate of decline.

But why are...

Some major banks are finally throwing a bone to consumers in the guise of eliminated bank fees. For months, many financial advice columnists have been educating bank account holders on carefully monitoring the fees the investment houses have been charging them for common occurrences such...

Do you have a dependent child who was under the age of 17 at the end of 2008? If so, you may qualify for the Child Tax Credit. Families who meet certain income requirements can qualify for up to $1000 per child in tax relief, which spells good news for working parents in this tough economic...

According to American Express , everyone has a reason to save, which is why they are offering a strong 1.85% APY high-yield savings account. The savings account has some great features to consider including:

• No monthly fees
• No minimum balance
• 24/7 access to your account online or by phone
• FDIC...

The push in September 2009 to extend unemployment benefits before approximately 400,000 workers from last year's layoffs lost theirs at the end of the month wasn't successful - and unfortunately, the extension has yet to be confirmed. This is due to a long-standing debate in Senate as to how...

A few months ago, we reported on savings account rates that had lowered considerably - now we've found that they've lowered their rates even further. Since many banks offer variable savings account rates, it's a good idea to check your rate to see if it has dropped. You can also check other bank...