If the number of 12ft skeletons within a one-mile radius of my home is any indicator, the popularity of celebrating Halloween is on the rise. Consumers are expected to spend a total of $11.6 billion on Halloween this year including costumes, decorations, candy, and greeting cards. That’s a lot of money! Here are four ideas to participate in the fun of spooky season without draining your bank account:
Borrow or DIY your costume
The average cost of a Halloween costume is $32.49. While that’s less than you’d for one meal on DoorDash, it can still be a lot to fork over for something you or your kid will only wear once. Why not borrow a costume from someone who already spent that money on something they or their child will never wear again? If you don’t have family or friends you can ask, try your local Buy Nothing group. You can also make a costume with Dollar Tree supplies for a fraction of the price of a store-bought costume.
Get creative with your Halloween activities
Halloween fun doesn’t have to be expensive. Try one (or all) of these low-cost activities:
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Pumpkin patch: A trip to the pumpkin patch (whether with friends or family) is fun for all. Enjoy the fall vibes and pick out a few pumpkins to take home and carve into jack-o-lanterns. This one can get expensive if there is an entrance fee or lots of extras, so make sure to do your research in advance.
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Pumpkin-themed potluck: Invite guests to bring their favorite pumpkin-flavored dish. Check out Budget Bytes for wallet-conscious recipes like Easy Pumpkin Chili, Curried Red Lentil and Pumpkin Soup, and Pasta With Creamy Pumpkin Sauce.
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Scary movie night: Gather with friends for an at-home scary movie night! Find out which scary movies you can see with the streaming subscriptions you’re already paying for through Rotten Tomatoes.
Make or thrift your decor
Thrift stores and second-hand shops are a goldmine for inexpensive seasonal decor: wreaths, lights, plastic and ceramic pumpkins, you can find it all. While you can score some finds during the season, you’ll have much better luck in the off-season when there is less competition from other thrifters. Don’t worry, if the seasonal decor section is lacking, you can make your own such as these pumpkins from old sweaters or these ghost paintings from thrifted canvases.
Save on candy
For Halloween candy, you’ll want to consider both the cost per ounce and the cost per piece. Most Halloween variety packs advertise the number of pieces per bag, which makes it easy to calculate (cost per bag divided by the number of pieces). Halloween candy is typically cheaper early in the season, so give yourself enough time to find the best deals (i.e. don’t wait until Halloween day to go looking). There are a lot of ways you can snag a good deal including shopping at discount stores like Aldi, buying in bulk through Costco (if you get a lot of trick-or-treaters), or taking advantage of a 2-for-1 deal at your local drugstore or grocery store.
