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When I was a kid, Halloween was definitely my favorite holiday. To me, there was nothing more exciting and satisfying than coming home after a successful night of trick-or-treating, dumping all of my candy onto the dinner table, and carefully trading candies with my sister and brother. The market was brutal and you had to be very careful not to get conned out of your favorite sweets.

With Halloween just around the corner and various Trunk or Treats scheduled for the area, I’ve decided to distribute a few candy-trading tips to children and parents alike.

Your first priority when trading Halloween candy should be to establish the tastes of your trading partner. Do they like sugary, fruit-flavored candies? Are they a peanut butter addict like me? Do they have their sights set on only chocolates and caramels? Learning what your trading partner is after will help you to get better deals.

Secondly, you should make sure to lay all of your candy out in front of you and organize it properly. Items like lollipops should be sorted together. Chewy candies like Laffy Taffy, Starburst and Tootsie Rolls should be placed side by side and may often be included together in a trade. Make sure to establish a pile for items that you are unwilling to trade unless someone presents you with a really, really good deal.

Next, you should carefully and intelligently begin trading. Don’t be tempted to take advantage of younger siblings that have not yet learned the value of a Twix, Kit Kat or Butterfinger. Go first for your favorite treats and candy bars. If your trading partner announces that they are after Milky Ways and 3 Musketeers, see if they’re willing to exchange your supply for any of your favorites that they are in possession of.

After the big stuff has all been traded, move on to the small items. Don’t feel discouraged if someone seems unwilling to trade a highly sought after item that you’ve got your heart set on; throwing in a miniature pack of M&Ms or Skittles may help sweeten the deal.

You may have to sacrifice your smaller candies in order to get what it is you truly want. However, don’t underestimate their value. Four Jolly Ranchers may have the same value as one small Hershey’s chocolate bar, depending on who you’re dealing with. Two small Airheads are often equated to the value of a small pack of Sour Patch Kids. Candy corn, depending on who you are trading with, is worthless or akin to gold.

It is always wise to save a little candy for your parents or other family members as a way of saying thanks for taking you trick-or-treating. Always let your parents go through your candy stash before trading begins, and feel free to unload the lesser treats (i.e. Smarties, bubblegum, Bit-O-Honey and Good & Plenty) upon Mom and Dad. However, remember to throw in a few pieces of the good stuff.

Above all else, remember to stay safe when enjoying this spooky holiday and do your best to trade fairly.

I, however, will be hoarding all of my Reese’s Cups.

Good luck and happy trading.

Alexa Massey is a staff reporter for The Charlotte Gazette and Farmville Newsmedia LLC. Her email address is Alexa.Massey@TheCharlotteGazette.com.