Halloween is Coming – How to Save Money and Celebrate on a Budget

We are well into October, which means one big thing – Halloween is just around the corner! Whether you’re decking out your home like a haunted house, or you have fantastically creative costume ideas for you and your family, the costs of celebrating this fall holiday can add up. However, it doesn’t have to be expensive – in fact, we’ve got a few ideas for you to have a spooky and fun Halloween without breaking the bank.

Go creative with your costume.

You don’t need to purchase a pre-packaged set to have a killer costume. Go through your closet and dresser and see how you can create a unique costume that you won’t find ready-made at a department store.

Hit up big box “warehouse” stores for candy.

Big box chains like Costco and Sam’s Club are some of the most cost-effective places to shop. So why not shop there for Halloween? You can save valuable dollars by buying candy in bulk, especially if you get a lot of trick-or-treater traffic in your neighborhood.

Decorate DIY style.

With 60-second “how to” videos popping up all over social media apps like TikTok and YouTube, and with the ubiquity of Pinterest, there’s no dearth of ways you can decorate your home for Halloween to attract trick-or-treaters in your area. It doesn’t even need to look pretty (in fact, it’s better if it doesn’t) – construction paper decor, glow sticks for mood lighting, a few tinted light bulbs to give off a spooky vibe, and red food coloring for “blood” stains can make a fun difference.

Check out local dollar / discount stores for unique “treat” ideas.

If you get a lot of trick-or-treaters in your neighborhood, or if you’re helping at a Halloween event (such as Trunk or Treat), it can be fun to expand past just candy and get creative. Stickers, pencils, and other cute trinkets can make for an interesting change.

Check out free activities in your area.

Whether you have kids and want to find family-friendly Halloween events, or you’re solo and interested in watching celebrators in costume, there’s always something going on for this holiday. Social media sites and apps like Facebook and Instagram have extensive information about local activities, such as cost and location.