If making decorations is scarier than facing a crowd of zombies with an empty candy bowl, there are a number of local places to buy Halloween decor for less.

First, check out Dollar Variety and Discount Store on Valley Street. The store has a wide range of "hollow watchers," the straw figures on sticks, styrofoam bats, zombie masks, and paper products galore. Most items are $4.99 (the hollow watchers) or less and the selection is wide.

Goodwill on Route 22 also has decor and costumes, most from Target, new with tags. Decorations there, such as a set of creepy covers for two-liter bottles, start at .49. For about $5, it's possible to creep out a front door and more.

The Junior League of Summit's Second Time Around shop has costumes and other accessories. Few, if any, of the costumes cost more than $10. The costumes are for kids and adults.

Second-hand shops are, of course, a great source for costumes. Other Mothers and Milk Money have plenty of kid costumes, in plenty of sizes.

Finally, if you want to decorate on a shoestring, it's worth trying the local swap meet this Saturday.

Boo!