Halloween

If pumpkin carving and paper mache is becoming too old-fashioned for your tech-savvy tykes, fear not. Dressing up like an iPhone 4 might be a bit much (that's a real touchscreen, folks!), but there's still plenty of ways to plan a Halloween that's cool for the kids, fun for the family, provides parents some piece of mind and most of all won't break the bank. Here's six great options - all treats, no tricks!

FUN

Make a Zombie App
Sure, the "undead" are all the rage these days, but what if your kids are too young for such flesh-eating fare? These cuter, animated versions should provide some more age-appropriate frights. Customize your creature's body, background, clothes and more, then share them via email, post to Facebook or save to a disk.

Hallowindow
If you're planning a haunted house, this website can help you increase the fear factor with a digital twist. Download images and animations that can be projected on windows or displayed on TVs, or spooky sound effects for creeping out oncoming candy-seekers. And if this all seems a bit complicated, the good folks at Geek Squad (www.GeekSquad.com or via any Best Buy store) are available to help you set up.

FRUGAL Read more

October is here, and in between sipping pumpkin-flavored drinks and planning the perfect costume for Halloween – you'll be doing a bit of shopping.

The folks over at dealnews have mined their extensive archives of sales, coupons, and products from the past few seasons to guide you in your quest for the savviest purchases in October. Here they are...

The Best and Worst Things to Buy in October

Halloween Items: Expect substantial sales on costumes the week before Halloween, with numerous stores offering stacking coupons to sweeten the deal. Last year, we saw moderate sales from BuyCostumes, Costume Craze, Toys "R" Us, and Diapers.com, and they got even stronger in the days leading up to 10/31.

Pumpkins: Along the east coast, flooding from last month's Hurricane Irene damaged many pumpkin patches, so prices on the seasonal gourd may be above average this October. Several media outlets are reporting that pumpkin prices could be almost double the norm.

Cold Weather Apparel: The sharpest discounts on cold weather items won't come until January. If you can't wait until after the New Year, you should try holding out until November. Around Black Friday, a wealth of apparel retailers will offer their best coupon of the year, which may take a full 40% off or more.

Denim: October is a good time to find discounts on denim as retailers continue to try to move the styles they'd hoped to sell during Back-to-School season.Read more

As the second oldest and second largest city in Georgia, many significant people have walked the historic streets of Augusta, Ga. and left their mark on the town. The city boasts several historic districts commemorating its rich past. Augustans claim that the spirits of those who founded the city and who helped shape it into what it is today never truly left. This October, come experience "Walk with the Spirits," in Magnolia Cemetery and determine for yourself if the tales are true.

For those daring enough to seek these spirits, Historic Augusta, Inc. invites locals and visitors on a special trip through time during "Walk with the Spirits" at the historic Magnolia Cemetery on Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $15 for adults, $10 for children and $10 per person for groups of ten or more. To purchase tickets or for more information, please contact Historic Augusta, Inc. by telephone at 706-724-0436, or visit www.historicaugusta.org. The tour is not recommended for children under the age of 5. Refreshments will be provided. Read more