"suck it up and spend a little more on candy" or, the ethics and economics of trick or treat

[ophelialaughs]

Yesterday, on Facebook (where else?) a friend of mine posted this: Here is my response to those bitching about kids going trick or treating in neighborhoods not their own... Who cares. I'm taking my kids to [town redacted] like I did as a kid. Their great grandmother expects it and looks forward to it. If some has a problem with it they need to

Comments

[goody_scrivener]

I didn't see the discussion on FB. I did, however, see that one of the syndicated advice columnists (Abby, Amy, Miss Manners, whatever) posted a letter over the weekend with a very similar response to the comment you quoted. And I had a similar response.

Halloween - and by extension, Beggars Night - may be a rite of childhood, but it sure as hell isn't a right. And its not my responsibility to fulfill other people's greed. I have no problem with buying candy and sitting home that night if I have the funds and the lack of other plans. I do have a problem with being treated like a Grinch when the situation is so dire that I have to choose between buying milk and putting gas in the car, so forget about buying a bag of Snickers.

[unclebillybob]

We've been poor so long that I suspect $50 would be a lot of money even if I hit the lottery. I went all out our first year in the house in H-don, and had two kids show up. Total.