When I was a kid, if you got store bought candy, it meant it was a two income family, which was rare at the time. Back in the day, it only took one mule to pull a wagon. The women would start baking a couple of days before Halloween making cookies, cupcakes, popcorn balls, etc. There was a sweet old lady at the far end of my allowed range that had a chicken barn that was heated, and she'd let you in and hand you a mug of hot apple cider made from her apple orchard with a cinnamon stick in it and let you warm up before heading back out. You held the cup in your hands to unthaw your fingers. Tasted good.
Used to hit the neighbor's house two or three times to get her popcorn/peanut balls. Changed masks so as not to look like a pig. Found out years later that she knew I was doing it. Said it made her feel good that I liked 'em that much. I still make her recipe and think of her every time.