Who doesn’t love the idea of doing Halloween on a budget or on the cheap?
Considering that spending on Halloween overall increases each year, it’s a good idea to think about ways you can cut your costs yet still enjoy Halloween this year.
According to the National Retail Federation, this year’s Halloween spending is expected to be the second highest Halloween spending since the Great Recession.
Not only are humans getting into the spirit of Halloween for themselves and their children but also for their pets.
Popular pet costumes include a hot dog, pumpkin or bumblebee. On average we are likely to spend just over $104 on Halloween.
This article outlines awesome pet costumes for Halloween.
While $104 may not be a budget-busting amount, wouldn’t it be great if you could shave just 10% off your Halloween budget?
That’s why I’ve put together this post.
Below, I’ve outlined ways to do Halloween on a budget.
This includes frugal Halloween costumes, DIY Halloween decorations and how to save money on Halloween candy–among other savings.
Portions of this article originally appeared on Parade.com.
Halloween Costumes on a Budget
Here is one of the most frugal Halloween costumes I’d ever created.
I turned a Twister game mat into a poncho and wore it for my costume.
I took the spinner and wore it around my neck like an oversized medallion.
Yes, I dressed up as a Twister game.
And you know what?
It was super cheap and it kept me warm on a chilly trick or treating night.
I believe this Twister game costume is one of the best budget Halloween costumes out there.
It is an easy Halloween costume for kids (though you might have to trim the Twister mat so they don’t trip) and definitely a cheap adult (as in grownup) Halloween costume.
You can find Twister board games on sale at Target or Amazon for under $20.
Shop a thrift store on the cheap
Another way to get cheap Halloween costumes?
Visit a local thrift or resale store.
My local Goodwill and other thrift and resale stores nearby usually put together a Halloween costume display in the fall.
In addition, I’ve seen signs outside thrift stores that encourage shoppers to stop in for their frugal Halloween costumes there.
One year I took my youngest daughter to a local thrift shop so we could create a “hippie” costume for her.
There, we purchased an authentic 70s polyester blouse and white go-go boots.
She used her own white tights, mini skirt and headwrap, and borrowed a pair of big-as-your-head sunglasses from a 70-year-old aunt, who wore those big-as-your-head sunglasses on her head in all seriousness in the 70s.
Final cost for the costume? $17.50.
Use what you already own for a budget costume
Want to be a cowboy, cowgirl or Jessie from Toy Story for Halloween?
Add a bandana to a pair of jeans and a denim shirt, find yourself a red cowboy hat, and you’re good to go. This picture is of my daughters and their best friend all dressed up as cowboys for Halloween. My daughters are Jane and Annie so they were Calamity Jane and Annie Oakley.
Interested in being the bride of Frankenstein?
You can finally wear your wedding dresses again!
Or look for one at Goodwill on eBay.
Are you a Breaking Bad fan?
Get yourself a yellow hazmat suit, some goggles or gas mask, and blue gloves, and everyone will know exactly who you are.
Never got around to watching Breaking Bad?
You can watch it for free–along with thousands of movies and TV shows–when you join Amazon Prime. Start your free trial now,
Try not to overthink your costume.
A trench coat and fedora turns you into a detective or private eye in no time, and chances are you or someone you know has a coat or hat you can borrow.
Do you have a super hero t-shirt?
Add a cape or a mask and maybe some tights, and your costume is all done.
Here are some ideas for awesome dog Halloween costumes.
Saving Money on Halloween Candy
Start clipping coupons now.
I noticed that in my last Sunday circular that there were a ton more candy coupons.
I’m sure it’s timed to go along with Halloween shopping and that’s OK.
Don’t get the Sunday paper anymore?
You can always go online to download coupons to help save money on Halloween candy.
Don’t forget Upside. In addition to saving money on gas, you can get cash back on your grocery and other shopping.
Also, when buying Halloween candy, don’t always go for the candy that screams HALLOWEEN.
They’re usually more expensive.
For example, the Peppermint Patties with the orange center or the pumpkin-shaped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are going to be more expensive than the regular versions of these popular candy snacks.
Plus, you’ll probably get more per bag by buying “regular” versus the “holiday” versions of candy.
This advice applies to sweets for Christmas, Easter and Valentine’s Day, too.
Here is a big bin of Halloween candy from a few years ago. Yes, we saved money buying it.
Halloween Decorations on a Budget
Use what you already own for decorations, too.
One of my favorite Halloween decorations is a scarecrow, something I remember my mother making each year when I was a kid.
The scarecrow would sit on the front stoop and “greet” our trick or treaters.
She would use her “grubs” (grungy clothes she wore for gardening) to dress the scarecrow.
All she needed to buy was some hay.
If you don’t have any “grubs,” you could raid your hand-me-down clothes or the ones you were going to donate to charity, and use them to make your scarecrow.
After Halloween, compost the hay and keep the clothes for next year’s scarecrow.
Here is advice on how to shop those after Halloween sales.
Grow your own Halloween decorations
Another idea?
Grow your own pumpkins.
We did this, quite by accident one year, but it was awesome!
You see, we had a small, raised “bed” next to our house.
This was where we dumped our grass clippings after mowing.
It’s also where we also composted food scraps.
One year we dumped the seeds and “guts” of the pumpkins that we’d carved for Halloween into this pile of compost.
Keep in mind this was no fancy compost.
We’d just outlined a rectangular area with pavers, in a sunny spot in our yard.
Then, we just kept filling it with grass clippings.
Fast forward a year, and we had pumpkin vines taking over our yard.
Without doing anything at all, we’d grown ourselves enough pumpkins to decorate for that Halloween.
Do you have a sunny spot in your yard where you can try this DIY trick?
Of course, it will be for next Halloween.
But it’s never too soon to plan.
After Halloween, be sure to compost your pumpkins.
Kids Eat Free on Halloween
Halloween happens to be one of those food holidays that I’ve covered and during which you’ll usually find tons of kids eating free deals.
What a great time to be off the hook for cooking dinner–Halloween night.
Some of the restaurants I’ve heard of letting kids eat for free on Halloween include Waffle House, White Castle and Chili’s.
Also, did you know that Halloween is one of the most popular nights for families to order a pizza?
I believe it.
Halloween party on a budget
What are some of the ways you can plan a Halloween party on a budget?
Make it a potluck.
What I love about potluck gatherings is that everyone brings a dish.
Not only does this save you time on planning but also it saves you money.
Of course, you can ask people to bring a dish that has a Halloween theme to it.
My friend Michelle has a great recipe on her blog Honest and Truly for monster cake pops.
Party decorations on a budget
One of the best places to shop for party decorations on a budget is your local dollar store.
And when I say dollar store, I mean Dollar Tree.
Sure, Dollar Tree recently raised its prices to slightly above $1.
However, at least everything is still in the dollar range.
Here are my favorite dollar store hacks.
Another option for decorations or paper goods is Goodwill, again.
You never know what kinds of housewares people will have donated.
It could be perfect Halloween (or other holiday) decorations you’ve been looking to buy.
Here is a link directly to the Dollar Tree Halloween shop.
How to Reuse Halloween Candy
Here’s a Halloween budget trick that lasts all year long.
No, I’m not suggesting that you keep last year’s Halloween candy and reuse it this year.
Rather, here are five ways to reuse Halloween candy in the near future.
This can help you save money on lunches and other celebrations.
- Freeze it for later use. Toss the chocolate candy in the freezer so it doesn’t melt or spoil before you can enjoy it. When you get a sweet craving, you’ll know where your stash is (albeit cold but fresh).
- Bake with it. I know plenty of at-home chefs who raid their kids’ M&Ms and Snickers bars, and use them to whip up some delicious desserts.
- Pack it in lunches. To me excess Halloween candy=saving money on packed lunches. You can probably get away with no snacks necessary for a month if you start using the Halloween candy in your kids’ (or your own) lunchboxes.
- Use it for crafts. I think the best crafty way I’ve seen for reusing Halloween candy is to save and use it for a holiday Advent calendar.
- Stockpile it for future celebrations. I’ve heard of moms who repurpose Halloween candy into the goody bags they give out for the kids’ birthdays. Guess that would be a money saver, huh?
Don’t forget to shop after Halloween sales starting on November 1st.
Also, Halloween is hardly the only holiday where you can find great after sales.
Check out this blog post for making the most of post-Valentine’s Day sales.