With the Fall air getting cooler and the leaves beginning to change, the most frightening day of the year is just a couple of weeks away. It's time to dust off your ghoulish decorations, put on your best costume and stock up on candy. Roughly two-thirds of the U.S. celebrate Halloween in some way; the National Retail Federation predicts that in 2019, 69 percent of people across the U.S. will hand out candy, 49 percent will decorate their home, 47 percent will dress up and 32 percent will throw a party. Many will also visit haunted houses or local Halloween events.
Whether you're scoping out the best neighborhoods for trick-or-treating, DIY'ing a crazy costume, or taking your party to the next level, the latest wireless technology can help make your ideas come to life. Here are T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile's tips on how your smartphone can help make this Halloween the best one yet.
1. Shop smart
If you want to be the most popular house on the block, you're going to need some killer decorations and a lot of candy. But there's no need to break the bank.
Check out the most popular shopping apps on your smartphone. Many like Ibotta or Fetch Rewards offer coupons or cash back at your local retailers, including grocery stores. Also, know when to shop. According to Ibotta, Halloween candy is cheapest four days before and most expensive the day before Halloween.
2. Use tech to upgrade your costumes and decorations
The latest advancements in wireless technology make it easier to kick your celebrations up a notch. For smartphone owners, Digital Dudz makes shirts and masks with animations that you control with your phone. With just a few taps and swipes you'll be able to turn an ordinary costume into something much more lifelike. You could even make your own techy costume using a smartphone or tablet.
If you want to create a spooky atmosphere, Phillips Hue makes smart lights capable of lighting your room with 16 million different colors—all controlled with your phone. You could also use smart speakers like Google Home or Amazon Echo, to listen to scary stories, play ambient sounds, or blast “Monster Mash” on repeat.
If you have a lot of decorations that need to be turned on and off, look into a smart plug that you can control with your smartphone. You'll be able to program the plug so you never have to worry about forgetting to turn your flying witches, scary goblins and fear-inducing black lights on and off.
3. Keep track of where the night goes
Whether you're gearing up for a night of trick-or-treating or parties, you're going to want a way to keep track of the fun (and candy). Luckily, there are plenty of apps out there to help you do just that.
If you plan on staying home for the night, outdoor cameras like the Google Nest can connect to your phone to help you keep an eye on visiting trick-or-treaters. In tandem with a smart plug, you'll be able to perfectly time your spookiest decorations and have a handful of candy ready to smooth things over.
If you plan on going out, apps like Find My Friends for iOS devices and Google Maps for both iOS and Android devices can help you keep track of where your friends and family are throughout the night so you never get lost. Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft can also help you safely get from place to place.
Finally, if you're still planning your night and looking for things to do, Nextdoor is a social networking app for neighborhoods. Only local neighborhood residents can post and comment, so you don’t have to wade through a million posts that aren’t relevant. There's a good chance a nearby neighbor has Halloween activities planned.
Of course, these tips aren't limited to Halloween. You can shop smart, decorate well and keep track of your friends and family no matter what day of the year it is.
