What are Boo Baskets? The expensive new Halloween trend is putting a financial burden on cash-strapped parents

Boo baskets are a joy for children – but a trick for parents.

Exhausted mothers and fathers are criticizing a new Halloween trend that requires them to gift their little ones a basket full of spooky treats.

While the concept of a “Boo Basket” originated several years ago, it has now become a popular Halloween phenomenon thanks to TikTok and other social media platforms.

One disgruntled parent took to Reddit to complain that Halloween was already over the top, writing, “There’s already costumes, trick-or-treating, fall festivals, hayrides, pumpkin carving, corn mazes, state fair…do we really need to add more?” “ ?”

“Absolutely no hate if you like doing that for your kids, because I know I definitely do [over the top] in other areas. It just feels a bit much to me.”

Many parents in the comments felt the same way.

“It’s not just you. I’ve made it my personal goal for the future not to get involved in this shit. “It’s not materialism that creates memories,” someone complained. “My child will be happy without all this crap. I don’t want to teach him that he always needs or gets things.”

“It’s all about spending more damn money so we can post it on Instagram to say we did it,” wrote another.

“Personally, I think we can make moments memorable without buying all the crap that is going to be thrown away anyway. “I’m going to stick to my normal traditions of carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating like I did when I was a kid,” another parent announced.

However, some said it would be difficult to get out of the new trend.

If you are the recipient of a boo basket (described as “being booed”), you are required to put together your own gift basket to give to someone else.

“The person who breaks the chain because they can’t afford to reciprocate or don’t have the time (or for other reasons) must feel like crap,” someone remarked.

This places both financial and time pressures on already stressed parents who are struggling to make ends meet in the face of rising costs.

“It sure sounds fun and I don’t mind spreading Christmas cheer to other kids, but in my mind putting together a boo basket is just another task on my already endless Halloween to-do list. ” wrote one mother for Parents.com.

“Now I’m going to the Dollar Store to try to create a boo bucket that will rival what my kids got that night.”

However, not everyone hates the idea. One mother told Today.com she was bittersweet about the new tradition.

“I like Boo baskets because my kids have fun with them,” Rachel Zawada of Charlestown, Massachusetts, told the outlet as she ran errands for a school fall festival. “But it feels like another thing on an ever-growing list of October to-dos.”

Chrissy Wade Roach of Penfield, New York, loves the tradition and tells Today, “Boos are just one example of how communities come together.” Plus, I love a good theme!”