Looking for Props for your next movie? Check out After Halloween Sales!

So I was at my local department store shopping for a storage bin and I stumbled upon my biggest pet peeve this time of year, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” a long row of Halloween items on sale while Christmas music blared happily overhead.

I always wish we could have a rest from exposure to both of these over-saturated events between Halloween and Thanksgiving, but I’m also a savvy shopper. Anyone who makes videos that might need movie props or makeup should consider the Halloween sale aisle. If you have a fake fight, you’ll need scars or makeup. If you have an ethereal fairy or wizard making magic, you’ll need tiaras and wands.  This time of year you’re going to find wigs, fake swords, zombie makeup and more – all at 50% to 75% off. What a deal. Facial scars, skin putty and glue, fake teeth even fake blood props are all on sale – and you probably won’t find them again until next year.

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While a mention of “Black Friday” may make some think variously of a really bad day on Wall Street or a great Steely Dan song*, it’s the day where all of the retailers pull out all the stops in the hopes of bringing massive throngs of customers into their stores, with some doorbusters and other loss leaders. (We even found a filterable spreadsheet including a number of fantastic buys on camcorders, HDTVs, etc… don’t miss it. The filtering doesn’t work on Excel 97, but OpenOffice.org is your friend–and it’s free, too.) Theoretically, this will be the day that all of the retailers will show a profit, due to the large volume of sales expected to be generated on this day.

On the other hand, Friday is also Buy Nothing Day, and there will even be an event at Union Square in NYC organized by Rev. Billy & The Church of Stop Shopping.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us to all of you!

*Why yes, I am a Steely Dan fan. Thanks for wondrering. And personally, I’m most thankful for my family… I love you, Chris and Zoey.