Halloween is one of those holidays that can get expensive before you even realize how much you’ve spent. Between costumes, candy, decorations, school activities, and everything else that comes with the season, those little purchases can add up quickly.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy Halloween!
With a little creativity and planning, you can put together inexpensive costumes, decorate your home, hand out treats, and enjoy fun activities with your family without blowing your budget.
Whether you’re trying to save money this year or looking for ideas to make Halloween more affordable next year, here are some simple ways to celebrate Halloween on a budget.
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1. Save Money on Halloween Costumes
Halloween costumes can be surprisingly expensive, especially when you’re buying for more than one person. Before you head to the store, take a look at what you already have. You might be surprised by what you can put together without spending anything!
Shop Your Closet First
You don’t always need a store-bought costume to dress up for Halloween. Look through your closets, drawers, and storage bins to see what you can use.
A black outfit can become a cat, witch, or Wednesday Addams costume with a few accessories. A white sheet makes a classic ghost, and an old flannel shirt can help create a lumberjack costume.
You can also try simple, funny costumes that use everyday clothing. Add spots to a white shirt for a cow costume, or put together a punny outfit using items you already own.
Don’t forget to check your children’s old costumes, too. Sometimes a costume from a previous year can be reused, passed down to a younger sibling, or changed up with a different accessory.
Try Thrift Stores and Online Resale Marketplaces
If you need a few extra pieces for a Halloween costume, check thrift stores before paying full price for something new. You can often find clothing, accessories, and other items that work perfectly for a costume.
You can also shop online resale marketplaces like eBay, Mercari, Poshmark, and Vinted. These platforms let you browse secondhand items from other sellers, and you might find just what you need for less than you’d pay at a regular retail store.
I’ve been selling on Vinted, and it’s a little like shopping at an online garage sale. It’s worth checking out if you’re looking for affordable clothing or accessories to complete a costume. Just remember to factor in shipping and any applicable fees when comparing prices.
Another option is to check Facebook Marketplace, local buy-and-sell groups, and community costume swaps. Many families have costumes their children have outgrown, and you might be able to find what you need for much less than retail.
If you have a costume your family no longer uses, consider trading with another family or selling it to help cover the cost of this year’s costume.
Get Creative With DIY Costumes
You don’t need to be an expert crafter to make a homemade costume. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best!
- Turn a cardboard box into a robot, a game piece, or another fun character
- Use an old sheet to make a ghost costume
- Put together a costume using clothes and accessories you already own
- Add inexpensive accessories or face paint to make an ordinary outfit feel special
One of my favorite things about homemade costumes is that they don’t have to look perfect. The goal is to have fun, not to spend hours trying to recreate something you saw online.
Shop After Halloween for Next Year
If you prefer store-bought costumes, check for clearance sales after Halloween. You may find costumes, accessories, and other seasonal items marked down, although discounts and availability vary by store.
Consider buying a size up if you’re shopping for a growing child, and store everything in a labeled bin so it’s easy to find next year.
Planning ahead can save you money and keep you from paying full price when Halloween rolls around again.
2. Save Money on Halloween Candy and Treats
If you hand out candy to trick-or-treaters, you know how quickly those bags can disappear. Before stocking up, think about how many children typically visit your home.
Estimate How Much Candy You’ll Need
If you’ve lived in your neighborhood for a while, you probably have a general idea of how many trick-or-treaters to expect. If you’re new to the area, ask a neighbor what Halloween is usually like.
Weather, the day of the week, and neighborhood traditions can all affect how many children come by.
It’s tempting to buy enough candy for everyone, just in case, but you don’t necessarily need to bring home several giant bags if your neighborhood usually has a quieter Halloween.
Compare Prices Before You Buy
Halloween candy sales have been going on for weeks, so compare grocery store ads and look for the best deals before stocking up.
You can also check warehouse clubs if you need larger quantities. Just make sure you’re comparing the price per item or ounce rather than assuming a bigger package is automatically the better deal.
If you use grocery store rewards, coupons, or cashback apps, check whether any current offers apply to your purchase. A little savings here and there can help reduce the total.
Another option is to mix name-brand candy with less expensive treats instead of buying only premium candy.
Consider Non-Candy Treats
Candy is a Halloween favorite, but it isn’t the only option.
Small items like stickers, glow sticks, bubbles, pencils, and temporary tattoos can be fun alternatives. You don’t have to provide a large assortment, either. Choose one or two affordable options that fit your budget.
If you’d like to offer a non-food option for children with food allergies or other dietary needs, you can learn about the Teal Pumpkin Project through the Food Allergy Research & Education website.
Don’t Forget About Leftovers
If you end up with extra candy, save unopened packages for another occasion when appropriate, share some with family, or use it for a baking project.
You can also set aside a little candy for a family movie night. Just remember to check expiration dates before storing anything for later.
The goal is to buy enough to enjoy Halloween without spending money on more treats than you can reasonably use.
3. Decorate for Halloween Without Spending a Fortune
I love seeing homes decorated for Halloween, but you don’t need to fill every corner of your house or yard with new decorations to make it feel festive.
Start with what you already own, then add a few inexpensive touches if needed.
Make Your Own Decorations
Before buying new decor, look around your home for supplies you can reuse.
Cardboard boxes, paper, old sheets, and other household items can become Halloween decorations with a little imagination.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Cut cardboard into tombstones or spooky silhouettes for your windows
- Turn an old white sheet into a simple ghost
- Cut black trash bags into spiderweb shapes
- Use construction paper to create a monster face for your front door
- Arrange inexpensive plastic skeletons in funny poses around your home or yard
You don’t need to make all your decorations from scratch. Even one homemade decoration can add a little Halloween fun without adding much to your budget.
If you use lights or candles near fabric, paper, or other decorations, choose battery-operated candles where appropriate and keep anything flammable away from heat sources.
Refresh Decorations You Already Have
Before shopping for more Halloween decor, pull out what you used last year.
You may be able to give older decorations a fresh look by rearranging them, adding ribbon, or using leftover craft supplies.
Sometimes changing where you display something makes it feel new again. A decoration that was on your porch last year might look completely different on a shelf or in a window this year.
Shop Dollar Stores and Clearance Sales
If you need a few additional decorations, dollar stores and discount retailers can be good places to look. You can also watch for sales throughout the season and shop clearance sections after Halloween for next year.
If you enjoy crafting, YouTube is another great place to find inspiration! There are lots of creators who share tutorials for making Halloween decorations using inexpensive supplies from Dollar Tree. You might find ideas for spooky signs, cute ghosts, pumpkin displays, or other decorations that cost less than buying something ready-made.
For inspiration, check out these Dollar Tree Halloween DIY ideas from Crafty Beach.
Try to have an idea of what you actually need before shopping. It’s easy to spend more than planned when every aisle is filled with cute seasonal items!
You don’t have to buy an entire collection at once. Choose a few pieces you love and build your decorations over time.
4. Enjoy Halloween Activities That Cost Little or Nothing
Halloween memories don’t have to come from expensive attractions, elaborate parties, or a calendar packed with activities.
Some of the best ways to celebrate are simple things you can do at home or in your community.
Look for Free Community Events
Check your local library, community center, churches, and neighborhood groups for free or low-cost Halloween activities.
You might find trunk-or-treat events, costume contests, craft days, story times, or other seasonal celebrations.
If you’re considering a pumpkin patch or a paid Halloween attraction, check the admission price and any extra costs before you go. Choose the activities that matter most to your family rather than feeling like you have to do everything.
Have a Halloween Movie Night
A movie night at home is an easy way to celebrate without spending much.
Pick a Halloween movie your family enjoys, make popcorn, and use snacks you already have in the pantry. You could even let everyone wear their costumes for the evening.
If you already have decorations, use them to make the room feel a little more festive. You don’t need to buy special party supplies just for one night.
Try a Halloween Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be.
Hide small treats around your home, make a list of Halloween items to find, or take a walk around the neighborhood and see how many pumpkins, ghosts, and skeletons you can spot.
You can also use items you already own for a Halloween craft or pumpkin-decorating activity. Painting pumpkins instead of carving them is another option if you’d like to avoid the mess of carving.
Make Your Own Halloween Tradition
One of my favorite Halloween memories happened in 2020, when my kids were 11, 7, and 5.
We decided to do indoor trick-or-treating. The kids put on their costumes, we watched a Halloween movie, and then I hid candy throughout the house. We turned off the lights and let them use flashlights to search for their treats.
I wasn’t sure how much they would enjoy it, but they loved it! We ended up doing it a few times because they had so much fun.
It was a simple way to make Halloween special when things were different that year, and it didn’t require an expensive outing or a bunch of supplies.
Sometimes the ideas that cost the least are the ones your family remembers the longest.
5. Throw a Halloween Party on a Budget
If you’re planning a Halloween party, decide on your budget before you start shopping. It’s much easier to keep costs under control when you know how much you want to spend.
You don’t need a rented venue, elaborate decorations, or a huge menu to have a fun party.
Here are a few ways to save:
- Host at home: Use your living room, backyard, or another space you already have rather than paying for a separate venue
- Keep decorations simple: Use existing Halloween decor, homemade decorations, or inexpensive streamers and balloons
- Serve easy food: Popcorn, pizza, sandwiches, cookies, and other familiar favorites can work well without requiring a complicated menu
- Choose inexpensive games: Try a costume contest, a scavenger hunt, or simple Halloween-themed games using supplies you already own
- Reuse what you can: Plates, serving dishes, and decorations you already have may work perfectly well
If friends or family offer to bring something, you can coordinate snacks or drinks, but don’t feel like you need to make your party bigger than your budget allows.
A few thoughtful details can make a gathering feel festive without making it expensive.
6. Plan Ahead to Save Money on Next Year’s Halloween
One of the easiest ways to save money on seasonal celebrations is to plan ahead.
After Halloween, take a few minutes to look at what you spent and what you actually used. Were there costumes that still fit? Did you buy too much candy? Were there decorations you never got around to putting up?
Use those answers to make next year’s Halloween a little easier.
You can also:
- Store reusable costumes and decorations in labeled bins
- Make a list of supplies you already have before shopping
- Set a spending limit for costumes, candy, and activities
- Watch for post-Halloween clearance sales
- Put a little money aside throughout the year if you know you’ll have seasonal expenses
The key is to make a plan that works for your family and your finances. You don’t need to prepare for every possible activity or buy everything you see on sale.
You Can Enjoy Halloween on a Budget
Halloween doesn’t have to mean overspending on costumes, candy, decorations, and activities.
Shop your closets before buying costumes, make the most of the decorations you already own, plan your candy purchases, and look for free or inexpensive ways to celebrate with your family.
Most importantly, give yourself permission to keep things simple. You don’t have to recreate everything you see on social media or say yes to every Halloween activity.
Choose the traditions your family enjoys most, spend what fits your budget, and have fun making memories together.
And I’d love to hear from you! What is your favorite way to celebrate Halloween without spending a lot of money? Share your ideas in the comments so we can all get a few more budget-friendly ideas for the season.
