If you just walked out of Party City or Spirit Halloween more than $200 poorer, you are not alone.
You are just another average American who spends more than $250 on the holiday, or about $257 per person, according to research by CouponCodesPro.com.
The bulk of the cost comes from preparing to throw or attend a Halloween party, and for that you can expect to pay about $103, the poll found.
The website surveyed more than 3,200 people about their spending habits.
The average cost of a costume is more than $59, while most people spend about $39 on candy for trick-or-treaters.
Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said its all worth the expense.
lorraine.mirabella@baltsun.com