A MUM has issued a warning to other parents after spending more than £70 taking her two kids pumpkin picking.
The activity – which involves children choosing pumpkins to take home from a field of options – is a popular choice around Halloween, and during the October half term.
They’d also had to pay £6 entry EACH to get into the pumpkin patch – a popular activity to keep kids entertained over the half term[/caption]
But when mum-of-two Emma decided to get in early with her pumpkin patch outing, she had no idea just how expensive it would turn out to be.
In a video on her TikTok page, she began: “So if anyone’s thinking about going pumpkin picking this year just don’t.
“£71? Let me show you what £71 worth of pumpkins gets you.”
Emma then turned the camera to show the wheelbarrow with their haul – three giant orange pumpkins, two medium paler ones and four little ones.
“That was £71!” she gasped.
She admitted her other half’s “face just absolutely dropped” when they got to the till and were told the price for the nine pumpkins.
“But then how do you say I’m not paying that when you’ve already filled your basket full of pumpkins?”
“£71 on pumpkins. I feel sick. What the hell? You have to remortgage your house just to go pumpkin picking?
“It’s right bad!”
Emma said the massive bill for the pumpkins came about because she hadn’t realised it was done on the weight of the pumpkins you picked, not how many you got.
“It’s not on per pumpkin anymore – it’s per weight,” she said.
“So make sure you take a bank loan out before you come!”
“What the helly?!” Emma captioned her TikTok.
“Is that just for the pumpkins or for entry too?” one person asked in the comments section.
With Emma replying: “Just pumpkins! £6 each entry too!”
“I’ve never been before and after this video I’m never going,” another added.
How to save on Halloween
CUT-OUTS WON’T KEEP: Once carved, pumpkins last just three to five days before they start to rot. So wait until a day or two before Halloween to carve yours, to ensure you won’t have to buy a replacement.
CHILLING CARVINGS: Carve your pumpkin right first time. Download free templates from Hobbycraft to help ensure no slip-ups.
DEVILISHY CHEAP DECORATIONS: Create spooky spider webs using old string or rope.
PAY LESS FOR FACE PAINTS: Cut costs by using your old eyeliners and eyeshadows, and dab on some talc when you need a ghostly white shade.
CUT-PRICE CANDY: Before you buy sweets to give out as treats, clear out your cupboards and see what you have. If you need more, shop bulk deals and compare the price per kilo before you buy.
PETRIFYING POT LUCK: Ask your guests to each bring a delicious themed dish to your party to keep hosting costs down.
SPINE-CHILLING TUNES: Turn to YouTube for a frighteningly good free playlist. There are dozens of channels with hour-long music mixes.
HOLD A SPOOKY SWISH: Swishing — or clothes-swapping with friends — is an easy way to get a new wardrobe. Hold a spooky swish before Halloween to trade costumes for kids and adults.
FRIGHTENING FREEBIES: Sign up for a free local Halloween event. Check your local Nextdoor or Facebook pages, or search eventbrite.co.uk for ideas.
BLOODY GOOD DEAL: Don’t fork out for expensive fake blood. Make your own edible version instead. You can use it for cakes and to decorate costumes.
SHOP ON NOV 1: Be organised and bag the bargains for next year by hitting the shops the day after Halloween. Remember to buy your kids’ costumes a size larger to allow for growth.
“We’re going at the end of October pumpkin picking but after seeing your video I’ll only be buying one pumpkin!” a third agreed.
While others insisted they’d found a cheaper way to go pumpkin picking – in their local supermarket.
“Day light robbery. We go pumpkin picking….in Asda,” one wrote.
“Should’ve gone pumpkin picking at Asda, £3,” another agreed.
“I go for the pictures. I buy them from Aldi,” someone else commented.
