Between costumes and accessories, decorations, and candy for trick or treaters – Halloween expenses can quickly add up. Luckily, there are plenty of budget-friendly ways to enjoy (or be frightened) this Halloween. Keep reading to learn six spooky, low-cost ways to celebrate.
1. Host a Spooky Movie Marathon
If watching a scary movie gets you in the Halloween spirit – try three of them in a row! Instead of heading to the movie theater, transform a cozy space at home into the perfect spot for a scary movie marathon. If you have streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or Paramount Plus – start by making a list of all the Halloween movies you can stream with your subscription. Then, decide on the ones that will make the cut. Lastly, arrange some cozy pillows and blankets and let the Halloween classics begin.
You can take this idea a step further by creating a movie theater-inspired concession stand out of inexpensive snacks like popcorn and boxed candy. Check out this list of easy and fun Halloween treats to put a festive spin on your movie marathon snacks.
2. Make Your Costume
Dressing up as your favorite character for Halloween can be exciting, but it can also be scary for your wallet. According to recent research, U.S. shoppers can expect to spend an average of $35 on an off-the-shelf costume, and $70 for a licensed/character costume this year. Keep Halloween fun and affordable by making a costume out of items you probably already have at home. Local dollar or thrift stores may have affordable costume supplies and accessories too!
Need some inspiration? If you have a black shirt, pants, and some makeup – you’re halfway to having a black cat costume. Next, find an affordable set of cat ears and a tail online or in a local store. If you want to make your Halloween attire entirely at home, check out this easy DIY cat costume.
3. Craft a Halloween Wreath
A wreath is a traditional decoration that symbolizes your celebration of a certain holiday or season – and can be pricey. Luckily, with a few dollar store materials – a festive Halloween wreath can be easy and affordable to make.
Check out the instructions and reference picture if you want to make a spider web wreath at home.
Supplies: Wire form, white yarn, black yarn or ribbon, and a large plastic spider.
Instructions:
1) Wrap a wire wreath form in black yarn or ribbon.
2) Stretch white yarn around the open center to form a web: Tie the spokes first, then spiral around them.
3) Add one large plastic spider (or multiple) to the web. Optional: Add a black bow tie to the bottom center of the wreath.
4. DIY Haunted House or Scavenger Hunt
A DIY haunted house can be an affordable and spooky way to celebrate Halloween if you have younger children at home. You can transform a room using materials you can commonly find around the house and Halloween decorations from your local dollar (think cobwebs, gravestones, skeletons, and hanging ghosts). After dimming the lights or playing eerie music – lead your little ones through the scenes you created. You can make it spooky (or not), and tailored to your audience.
A less scary alternative is creating a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt. Decide on the route you want the kids to take through your home or outdoors, unique hiding spots for the items you choose, and clues for finding them. Don’t forget to hide candy too – it’s like trick or treating, but with a twist!
5. Write Your Own Scary Story
Scary stories are a Halloween staple, but you’re not alone if you’ve ever felt like you hear the same ones every year. Take matters into your own hands by writing a spooky story! If you have a smaller group, you can individually come up with your own and then come together later to share them. Consider group storytelling if you have a larger group – where you choose a theme, have one person start with an opening sentence, and have each additional person add a sentence at a time. Then read your masterpiece aloud for all to hear.
6. Check Out Your Local Library
Your local library can be a great place to start if you’re searching for affordable, festive ways to enjoy Halloween. Libraries often have resources that go far beyond books. You’ll usually also find other types of media like audiobooks or DVDs, free Wi-fi and computers, crafting supplies, and events. You may even be able to find Halloween movies to rent, crafts to make in the library or “take and make” crafts for home, or other free or low-cost programs.
If you’re in Monmouth or Ocean Counties in New Jersey, the Monmouth County Library System and Ocean County Library have many seasonal offerings to explore.
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