THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2024 Page 9 BBB Tip: Celebrate Halloween on a budget C onsumers are gearing up to celebrate Halloween. Total Halloween spending is expected to reach $11.6 billion, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. This year 72% of people will participate in Halloween-related activities. Those numbers can seem daunting for a single day, especially when watching the family budget. However, there are ways to keep the fun stylish and on budget. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recommends the following tips this Halloween: Look around your home: Check your closet. There are probably hidden surprises to help you throw together a killer costume! Getting creative will not only help save money but also save space. Rent a costume: If the idea of spending money on buying a costume isn’t quite appealing because you will only wear it once, consider renting. Renting a costume leaves room in the budget. Research rental companies on BBB.org, check the store policy regarding trying on costumes, inspect the condition of the outfi t and read the rental agreement carefully before signing anything. Buy in bulk: It might seem counter-intuitive, but buying more can save you money! Buying in bulk lessens the cost per item. Budgeting can be especially handy on a night like Halloween, considering that there might be more trick-or-treaters this year. Factory-wrapped candy will last a long time, even if you have leftovers. And let’s be honest, leftovers are pretty tasty, even after Halloween. Always check the return policy: Seasonal shops carry unique items for a short period in a temporary location or online. When shopping for a seasonal vendor, understand the store’s return policy before purchasing. Remember: Buying a bunch of stuff with the intent of simply returning it after October 31 is considered fraud. Shop smart online: When shopping from an online website, the fi rst step is ensuring the URL starts with “HTTPS” and includes a lock symbol. The S in “HTTPS” stands for secure. Look up the website’s privacy policy and contact information. If it is not clearly listed, or they only have an email as the point of contact, take that as a big red fl ag and shop elsewhere. Also, be sure to use your credit card instead of your debit card, as credit cards not only provide additional protection but are also easier to dispute a fraudulent charge. Seasonal stores: If you decide to shop from a seasonal store, ask whether or not they will be open after the holiday, how long they plan to stay open, and if they will accept returns after Halloween. If they plan to close up shop on November 1 or refuse returns after, either consider shopping elsewhere or take more time to be sure that item is exactly what you want before making the purchase. More tips for seasonal “pop-up” stores: • Ask the owner if there is a website in case you must contact them later. • Save every receipt. • Use a credit card to dispute problem charges with the issuer. • Make sure you are clear on what items are FINAL SALE. Attending a special event or visiting a haunted house: Before RevereTV Spotlight O ctober is Italian American Heritage Month! RevereTV streamed and recorded the City of Revere’s celebration at City Hall, and it is currently replaying on the Community Channel. RTV partnered with other city organizations, such as Revere Public Schools, to create a program that includes a roundtable discussion with community members where the participants talk about how they integrate their Italian roots into their everyday life. The program also has segments of an authentic Italian dance and an Italian inspired cooking show. This celebrational program of Italian American Heritage Month in Revere will be playing on the Community Channel. Join Victoria Fabbo in the newest episode of “Fabulous Foods” as she teams up with special guest Joe Piantedosi, owner of Piantedosi Baking Co.! Together, they’ll guide you through creating an absolutely delectable meatball sub with fresh baked bread — in honor of Italian American Heritage Month. Learn about the rich history of Piantedosi Baking Co., which is based in Malden. Tune in on the Community Channel or watch this episode on YouTube to follow along at your own pace. “View from the Hill” is a feature program with State Representative Jessica Giannino as host. It is an interview-style show that highlights some of Representative Giannino’s active initiatives in the State House. On this episode, Representative Giannino and Massachusetts Coalition of Police Vice President John Nelson discuss crucial legislation, including the passage of House Bill 4746, An Act relative to disability pensions and critical incident stress management for violent crimes. Tune in daily for the next month on the RTV Community Channel to watch “View from the Hill.” Did you see the comet last week? Tsuchinshan-ATLAS made its spectacular return to our sky after 80,000 years! RevereTV posted a step-by-step guide on how to view the comet on Instagram. Check out and follow @RevereTV on Instagram to see some authentic photos of the comet. If you got your own photo, direct message it to RTV and we’ll share it! Happy stargazing! RTV GOV has a current scheduled rotation of meetings from the last few weeks. Beyond the usual, there were a few special public meetings to look for as they replay on the channel. The fi rst is the Beachmont Connector Public Hearing, and the other is a Revere Housing Update presented by the Revere Housing Coalition. All government meetings stream live on RTV GOV and RevereTV’s YouTube page. Replays are then scheduled in the following weeks on television, but recordings stay posted to YouTube to view at your convenience. RTV GOV is channel 9 on Comcast and channels 13 and 613 on RCN. purchasing tickets, research the group off ering the experience and make sure that there are no complaints about the company hosting the event. • Check out the company at BBB.org. Read what previous customers say and see how the business responds to complaints. • Check https://www.bbb.org/ scamtracker and see if other consumers have fi led a report about the event host. • Search the business online by adding the words “Complaint,” “Reviews” or “Scam” after their name for diff erent search results. • More tips on buying tickets are at https://www.bbb.org/ article/tips/13986-bbb-tip-buying-tickets Have a safe, happy Halloween! 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM - ID Required Private Parties Private Parties 4-8 p.m. $10.00 8:30-11 p.m. $11. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM - ID Required 12-9 p.m. $10.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com
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