Halloween is a blast for kids, but it can drain your wallet fast. Between costumes, candy, decorations, and school events, costs pile up. The good news: you can celebrate a spooky, fun-filled Halloween without spending a fortune.
Here are 29 ways parents can save money this Halloween:
Costumes
- Swap costumes with friends or neighbors.
- Buy used at thrift stores or online marketplaces.
- DIY outfits from clothes and items you already have.
- Focus on accessories like hats, wigs, or face paint.
- Buy after Halloween for huge discounts.
- If someone must have a special costume, try renting instead of buying new.
Candy & Treats
We checked the prices at our local Walmart to see what’s happening with Halloween this year. Looks like a bag of 200 pieces of chocolate is $24.96, which comes out to about 12.5 cents per piece. So, if you’re giving out 2 pieces per child, you’ll be spending about a quarter per trick-or-treater, and you can hand out candy to 100 kiddos.
Turns out there are other things you can buy that aren’t candy that can be about that price, or maybe even a little cheaper. Be sure you check the rebate apps like Ibotta or Fetch for cash back. For example, at that same Walmart, I can get a 12-pack of pudding cups for $3.37, which is about 28 cents per kid. I was able to find a coupon that brought that price down to less than .20 per. Not too shabby.
- Buy candy early to avoid price spikes.
- Shop in bulk at warehouse clubs or online.
- Pick off-brand candy because most kids don’t care.
- Mix in small non-candy treats: stickers, glow sticks, temporary tattoos.
- Share candy costs with neighbors.
- Limit how many pieces each child gets.
- Check store rewards programs for hidden discounts.
- Look at discount stores and clearance sections for deals. Try stores like Ollies, Big Lots, etc.
- Follow social media influencers who specialize in finding grocery deals.
School & Community Parties
- Bring low-cost items like cups, napkins, or homemade snacks.
- Reuse decorations from past years.
- Avoid prepackaged treats and choose simple homemade options.
- Coordinate with other parents to split costs.
Home Decorations
- DIY with paper, cardboard, string lights, or natural items.
- Visit the thrift stores in your area
- Buy decorations after Halloween on clearance.
- Use natural décor like pumpkins, leaves, and branches.
- Limit outdoor lights to save on electricity.
Halloween Family Fun Without Extra Spending
- Stay local to save on gas.
- Repurpose bags or buckets instead of buying new.
- Host a potluck dinner with neighbors before trick-or-treating.
- Stream a Halloween movie at home.
- Make it special with free activities:
- Costume parades at home or around the block
- Ghost stories or Halloween-themed books
- Popcorn and hot cocoa after trick-or-treating
- Spooky scavenger hunts using items you already have
Sher Bailey is a writer in the Midwest who believes the power of humor, Mod Podge, and grandkids can fix most problems in life. You can find her at SherBailey.com.
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