Every year, our family tends to carve the same face onto our pumpkin. Triangles for eyes, a simple nose, and a great big smile. (We prefer our Halloween on the “happy” side, rather than the “scary” one.) But every time I see that smiling pumpkin, I can’t help but think he’s somehow laughing at us for all the money we’re wasting every October on new Halloween decorations, costumes, and various other Halloweeny things we’ll be throwing away less than two weeks from now. Scary, indeed. Fortunately, this article from U.S. News collects some great ideas on how to save money this Halloween.
Anyone who loves dressing up for Halloween, carving pumpkins and passing out candy to neighborhood kids knows that the cost of Halloween can add up. Between costumes, candy and decorations, the average American will spend $74 this year, according to the National Retail Federation. While dressing up your child like a ghost can be costly, it’s the grown-ups who end up spending more money on their own getups. NRF reports that Americans spend $1.2 billion on adult costumes while total spending on children’s costumes tops out at $950 million.
Luckily, there are ways to trim the costs without missing out on any of the fun. We consulted some of the smartest frugal spenders around to find out how they plan to get the most out of the holiday while staying on budget. Here are their best tricks:
Go retro with your games. Rachel Jonat, founder of The Minimalist Mom blog, is hosting a Halloween party for her 5-year-old son that will feature old-fashioned games, including bobbing for apples and musical chairs. She’ll decorate with pumpkins and simple crafts that she can recycle. Instead of gift bags, she’s doing a science experiment that involves microwaving soap that the kids can take home with them. “It’s cheap, fun – and not candy,” she says.
Take advantage of your community. Jonat plans to buy secondhand costumes for her three children from local stores, and her family also attends free Halloween events hosted by local businesses and organizations. When they go to the local pumpkin patch, they’ll only buy pumpkins and skip the pricier hay rides and other attractions. “We’ll still make a day of it and have a lot of fun without spending a lot,” she says.
Recycle candy. Ashley Langston, founder of the Frugal Coupon Living website, suggests browsing Pinterest to get ideas for how you can turn leftover Halloween candy into Thanksgiving and even holiday deserts. That way, you won’t waste the candy bars that didn’t get passed out. She also suggests giving out pencils, erasers and stickers that are cheap and plentiful at party stores. If you have leftovers, they can be repurposed for school or art projects.
Get creative. You might have the costumes you need around the house already, suggests Lauren Greutman, a contributor to the U.S. News Frugal Shopper blog and founder of iamthatlady.com. “We often find dress up toys very useful during Halloween,” she says. Old ballet costumes for girls can also come in handy – add some $5 fairy wings, and you’re ready to go trick-or-treating.
