Spooky season is upon us, which means scary movies, haunted houses, and lots of treats. While Halloween can be a blast as a kid, as an adult, the scariest thing is often how much it costs to celebrate. In fact, Americans are expected to spend $11.6 billion total on Halloween, with an average of over $100 planned spending per person according to the National Retail Federation. If those numbers send shivers down your wallet, don’t panic. Keep reading to see how you can save money this Halloween.
Take inventory and plan
It’s easy to see the Halloween decorations in stores and be tempted to go all out. Before you do that, take stock of what you already have. If you love Halloween, this probably isn’t the first time you’re decorating, so pull out the boxes from the attic, basement, or storage closets and get to work. List the things you already have, including décor or props you may think belongs solely to another holiday. Once you’ve done that, you can decide how you want to decorate and what supplies you’ll need—you might discover you’re only missing a few items from your wish list. From there, you can prioritize what you really want or decide they aren’t necessary. If you decide to go shopping, list the items you want and decide on a budget.
Pro tip: When packing up your decorations later, write down what’s inside and leave it at the top of the box. When you open it next year, you won’t have to dig confusedly through boxes to find the things you need.
Halloween swap
Now that you’ve taken inventory, you may have also found some old decorations you don’t love anymore or costumes that don’t fit. Before you hit the store, consider doing a Halloween swap with your neighbors or friends. Grab your crew and bring all your extras—any Halloween decorations, old costumes, or extra candy buckets. Not only will you walk away with some new things, but you’ve saved some cash and cleaned out space!
Do-it-yourself
Another benefit of taking inventory is that you may find pieces you already have that can be repurposed into new costumes or decorations. You may also grab pieces at your Halloween swap that can be adjusted to fit your needs. You can even upcycle things you already have to get in the spooky spirit. Turn empty soda bottles into a jetpack or turn your trash bags into spiderwebs. Ready for Christmas? Put your tree up, cover it with a sheet, add some eyes, and you’ve got a spooky ghost haunting your halls (plus, you’re three steps ahead of the next season)! And don’t forget, anything can be made more Halloween-y with a little fake blood.
Buy secondhand
If you decide to buy some new things for Halloween, you don’t have to spend a fortune. Whether you’re looking for costumes or decorations, another great way to save money is buying secondhand. Check out sites like Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor to find items in your area for sale. Don’t forget to check the thrift stores and secondhand shops, either—these can be great places to find items that match a specific theme of décor or to find pieces for a costume. (I recently picked up the cutest pumpkin bowl that, while missing its lid, works great as a centerpiece with flowers!) If you’re crafty, some secondhand stores sell fabric, or you can repurpose readily available items like sweatshirts. Around this time of the year, many thrift stores even have a section of old costumes.
Other things to keep in mind
Two of the biggest things to keep in mind as you start to collect new Halloween treats is how easily you can store new things and if they can be used for other holidays or events. That 12-foot skeleton looks awesome, but if you’re only using it once a year and it fills your entire attic, is it really worth it?
Halloween can also be a good time to talk to your kids about money. While candy and costumes are a lot of fun, they can also help you introduce concepts like budgeting, which can make the conversation less intimidating for them—and you!
Key takeaways:
- Take stock of your supplies before you go shopping.
- Buy secondhand from places like Facebook Marketplace or thrift stores.
Whether you prefer the tricks or treats, Halloween can be a ton of fun—and a ton of money. We hope these ideas help you save some money this year so you can make the most of the holiday while spending the least.
