Halloween may be the time of year to celebrate all things creepy, but nothing says scary quite like a busted budget. Costumes, candy, decorations, and more all pull in big numbers when it comes to American spending, totaling an estimated $12.2 billion in 2023—or an average spend of $108.24 per person, according to the National Retail Federation. If you’re being a little more cost-conscious this year, the good news is that enjoying Halloween on a budget doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice all the fun. A little creativity and planning are all you need to celebrate a thrifty spooky season.

8 Tips for Celebrating Halloween on a Budget

1. Shop the Dollar Store
2. DIY Your Décor
3. Have a Costume Swap
4. Check Local Free Events Calendars
5. Have a Halloween Movie Marathon
6. Throw a Spooky Game Night
7. Host a Halloween Potluck
8. Buy Discounted Décor After the Holiday

1. Shop the Dollar Store

If you have a dollar store near you, you can find an impressive assortment of fun décor that will liven up your space for a happy Halloween—all without breaking the bank. Candles, garlands, treat bags, window clings, paper goods, and other decorations are all fairly common finds in discount stores, as are bags of candy and costume accessories.  

Part of the fun in shopping at the dollar store is that much of the décor has the potential for unique customization. You can make your own candle arrangements, light fixtures, displays, and more with just a little creativity. And if you’re stumped on what to make, a simple search on Pinterest, Instagram, or TikTok will show you what other shoppers have created with their own budget buys from the dollar store. There are plenty of possibilities here to celebrate the holiday in style without overspending.

2. DIY Your Décor

In the spirit of customizing your dollar store finds, you could go a step further with full DIY. And for some of these ideas, you may not even need to leave your house. Social media is, once again, the go-to destination for décor inspiration. You can browse the nearly endless ways other creators have repurposed household items into adorable decorations with character. 

Do you have any old mason jars that you could transform into ghostly candleholders? Or maybe some scraps of fabric that would make a perfect table runner? What about some twisted old branches in the yard that make a delightfully creepy bouquet? Even items destined for the trash—paper towel tubes, empty egg cartons, old t-shirts, pieces of cardboard, etc.—can be crafted into things like ghosts, giant spiders, bats, pumpkins, and more while helping you avoid the temptation to impulse buy. If you have kids, this is a great way to get them involved with a craft activity that’s every bit as budget-friendly as it is fun.

3. Have a Costume Swap

Costumes consume the highest portion of Halloween spending each year, reaching an estimated record of $4.1 billion in 2023. And, according to the National Retail Federation, that includes costumes for adults, children, and pets. With 63% of those celebrating Halloween planning on buying a costume, this is a great opportunity to look for cost-cutting measures. 

While you could always shop for a secondhand costume, another unique—and completely free—idea is to organize a Halloween costume swap. Get together with friends, neighbors, or other members of your community to borrow each other’s costumes for the year. This way, you can partake in the holiday without dropping cash on an outfit and accessories you’ll only wear one night of the year. If there are a lot of children in your community or friend group, this can be a great way for parents to save money while letting the kids forge new friendships and enjoy being neighborly.

4. Check Local Free Events Calendars

Checking your local free events calendar is a fantastic way to find no-cost Halloween activities happening near you. For example, your city may be hosting a fall festival, a pumpkin patch meetup, group trick-or-treating, haunted hayrides, costume parades, pumpkin carving contests, and more.

All of these activities create a fun, festive atmosphere without any financial strain on you. And apart from being free, these events also provide a safe, family-friendly space to enjoy the holiday with your community.  

5. Have a Halloween Movie Marathon

There are so many quintessential Halloween films that are a must-watch every year. Why not stream some of them for a movie marathon? You can curate a list of your favorite flicks or poll your friends for their top choices, then gather everyone together for a movie night at home. You could go the light-hearted route with family-friendly favorites like Hocus Pocus, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, or Casper, or keep it creepy with Halloween, Psycho, The Shining, or other horror classics. Movies like Coraline, Beetlejuice, and Ghostbusters are other fun choices that most ages can enjoy.

To make your movie night complete, set out some homemade snacks for your guests. Candy corn trail mix, mummy hot dogs, worms in dirt, and eyeball cake pops are a few themed treats that are simple to put together. Set out a punch bowl or DIY hot chocolate bar to pair with the snacks.

6. Host a Halloween Potluck

Potlucks are a great way to divvy up the cost and effort of hosting a party. Invite each of your guests to bring a dish, snack, or beverage to pass—bonus points if it sticks to a spooky theme. You could even throw a contest to vote for whose dish best embodies the Halloween spirit. 

A potluck not only alleviates some of the financial pressure, but also adds a personal touch to the event that makes it more involved and memorable. Encourage your attendees to share their favorite recipes so everyone gets to take home a piece of the magic.

7. Throw a Spooky Game Night

Another fun way to spend Halloween on a budget is to throw a themed game night. You can always play your favorite board games or card games, or you can keep it festive with a Halloween-themed twist on things like trivia, charades, bingo, a scavenger hunt, and more. 

Round out the evening with a spread of Halloween snacks and cocktails (or mocktails) for everyone to enjoy.

8. Buy Discounted Décor After the Holiday

If you really have your heart set on buying Halloween décor, try to wait until after the holiday to find items marked down. Post-holiday sales can be a great way to stock up on seasonal decorations, tableware, and costumes for a steep discount. Pro tip: If you have a sweet tooth, you can usually find candy on clearance, too. 

Major retailers like Walmart, Target, HomeGoods, Home Depot, and Lowe’s are good places to check for discounted décor, as are large online outlets like Amazon. With some savvy shopping, you’ll be well-prepared for next year’s spooky season.

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