Illinois Halloween Hack to Deter Trick-or-Treaters From Knocking

I love Halloween.  I'm the person who wants to decorate the yard, put out all my spooky stuff, and make the outside of my house look like Halloween threw up everywhere.

But here's the thing: just because I love decorating for Halloween doesn't mean I want to spend the entire evening answering the door and handing out candy.  Candy is also incredibly expensive this year, too!

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The tricky part is that when you have Halloween decorations all over your yard, kids might assume you're participating in trick-or-treating.  You can have skeletons, pumpkins, giant inflatables, and all the spooky lights you want, but that doesn't necessarily mean there's a bowl of candy waiting at your front door.

So, how do you let people know you're sitting Halloween out without taking down all your decorations?

The simplest solution: turn your porch light off.

Close up, low angle view of an old fashioned lantern on a porch

It's a widely recognized signal that you're not handing out candy, even if your yard is decked out for the holiday.  The general etiquette is pretty straightforward: porch light on means trick-or-treaters are welcome, while a porch light that's off means they shouldn't even knock.

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If you want to avoid any awkward doorbell rings, consider putting up a small sign letting people know you're not participating.  I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to enjoy Halloween your own way.  Some people love passing out candy, while others would rather stay inside, watch a scary movie, and admire their decorations from the comfort of their couch.

That person is me.