Herding Cats: Our Favorite Savings Stories for the Week of October 4th

I quite literally lost my head last Halloween having spent the evening with a charming zombie protruding from my waist. While able to maintain ownership of the one provided by my parents, my poor zombie twin was not so lucky having his head stolen by the close of All Hallows Eve. You never know what you're going to get by the end of October so here are a few articles that make it difficult for even the most resilient to keep their heads fastened securely to their shoulders.

• SmartMoney: Watch Out for October - Predictors of stock market trends deliver mixed signals as to where we can expect to see the numbers go and how we should invest as a result. October is historically a difficult month to speculate for with experts suggesting a cautionary stance throughout its duration. While the market may see a correction toward March lows, we're safe to walk down our local financial district without the fear of anyone landing on our heads.

• Consumer Reports: Recession Effect on Halloween - The National Retail Federation found in a recent survey that folks plan to spend less on costumes and candy and more on the bottom line of their bank accounts. Expect less undead in foam latex and more cotton sheet toga parties. Hopefully folks are still spending on laundry detergent.

• WiseBread: Cheap and Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids - "Cheap" and "easy" are certainly not two words I would apply to my kids. I intend to kill two birds with one stone and treat my children to a new costume concept this year called paper mache. Not only will they be covered in pretty colors, they'll stop jumping up and down on the furniture.

• Consumerist: Non-recalled Toyotas Could Still Have Dangerous Floor Mats - There's nothing funny about a dangerous mat that creeps under your acceleration pedal when you're not looking. This has led to many of the vehicles being recalled. This begs one to ask why Toyota doesn't address the real problem and simply deploy an army of ringwraiths to slaughter the tiny hobbits living under your driver's seat.

• WalletPop: Cash-strapped Detroit Sees Bodies Pile Up in County Morgue - The impact of a down economy is felt in a countless number of ways, one of which is effecting the burial of 67 bodies that remain frozen while awaiting their final resting place in Detroit. On the flip side, many successful companies are born out of a recession when the opportunity presents itself - and in this case, Detroit should know I have a rather large back yard.

• Consumerist: Red Robin Cuts Crayons, Forces You to Talk to Kids - Earlier I referenced my two children whom I will refer to as "Difficult" and "Unaffordable." And frankly, this one scares the $@#% out of me. I understand times are tough, but there are some things you just don't do. And taking away my children's crayons forces them to resort to other forms of entertainment like engraving the likeness of their favorite Disney character into the table with their pocket knives. Talking? Looks like it's going to be Sizzler tonight.