Halloween costing more than you expected? I get it, and I can help. Here are 3 clever and simple ways to save money this Halloween and still have fun.
Robot . . . Punk Rocker . . . Raggedy Ann . . . Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks – while these characters may seem unrelated and would certainly make for an interesting dinner party, all of the above were favorite Halloween costumes from my childhood. Halloween seemed a little simpler then. Most of our costumes were made from what we already had. That robot costume featured an appliance box covered in aluminum foil and stretchy dryer vent tubes. With few store bought options, we made due in the 1980s and roamed the neighborhood collecting as much candy as possible (P.S. be sure to leave your favorite childhood costume in the comments because I want to know!).
Halloween is now a booming industry. Analysts indicate Americans spent a whopping 8.4 billion dollars last year, an annual increase of 1.5 billion. If that pattern continues this year, consumers might reach the 10 billion dollar mark. Just for a little perspective $1.28 billion will buy six of the most expensive paintings in the world. But I digress.
So many of us love holidays and celebrations and traditions, but few of us love the price tag that comes along with those festivities. It’s easy to mindlessly toss items into our cart and have no idea how much we’ve spent until we reach the end of the conveyor belt at the cashier. Our eyes bulge and our stomachs drop as we dig around in our wallets for a payment method. Certainly there has to be a better way to dress up and hand out candy, right?
Definitely. If you plan on celebrating Halloween, you can’t miss this round-up of my favorite Halloween money saving tips. No need to have a budget dripping in red or scream when you open your banking app. Put these principles into place and have all the fun without any financial scares.
Probably the most iconic symbol of the season, the jack-o-lantern could cost you a pretty penny. When you’re tempted to drop scads of cash, remember that on November 1st, you’ll be tossing out or turning around your little orange friend. If you want to save money on pumpkins, hit the grocery store instead of the patch. You can find large carving pumpkins for as little as $0.99. I’m serious, that’s what I paid at ALDI during a promotional week last year. When it comes to getting your carve on, skip the tool kits and books of patterns. You can find what you need to get the job done in your kitchen or garage and plenty of free templates online, too! Check out these links to begin choosing your favorite today:
Every year, I’m astonished at the number of costume stores that pop up expressly to sell items during the months of September and October for Halloween. Don’t worry, you don’t have to dress in gunny sack. You can still have a smashing costume. However, you need to set some realistic expectations with your kids and yourself to keep your dress up game from becoming a beast.
Set a Budget. Don’t walk down the aisles blind. Know how much you want to spend and stick to it. If necessary bring only the cash you plan on spending to keep a firm boundary.
Shop Without the Kids. While you definitely want their input, for some kids, it might be a good idea for mom or dad to tackle the costume quest solo. Unmet expectations and moments of weakness abound when it comes to picking out Halloween threads. Sometimes, it’s best to shop without your kids.
Raid the Dress Up Stash. The perfect disguise might be right under your nose. From sports uniforms to princess dresses, you may be able to pull off this year’s get up without spending a dime. At a minimum, you’re certain to find a matching accessory or two.
Opt for PJs. In the last couple of years, stores have stocked great one piece pajama sets for adults and kids during the Halloween season. I love the idea of a costume that can be worn more than one day and this fits the bill perfectly!
Hit the Clearance. This tip cuts your costs for next year’s celebration. You can find dozens of costumes for as much as 90% off in the weeks after Halloween. It may require a little digging on your part, but it’s worth it.
Still stumped on what to do? Check out Six Last Minute FREE Halloween Costumes for ideas!
Guilty pleasure confession: I already bought a bag of candy corn. I love the stuff and just can’t quit this time of the year. Mix it with some salted peanuts and I’m one happy girl. But bags upon bags upon bags of candy can bust your budget (and maybe the seam of your pants). Instead of shoveling out your hard earned dough, consider these candy money saving ideas:
Consider an Alternative. Maybe you should skip the candy all together this year. With so many kids combating allergies and obesity, their parents just might thank you. Choose a candy alternative like stickers, glow bracelets, small toys, and novelty items. Best of all, if you don’t hand out all of the goods, you can put them back and use them next year.
Always Use Coupons. Candy companies and retailers LOVE to issue plenty of coupons during the Halloween season. Be sure you check your newspaper, store app, and online printable coupon resources to save as much as possible.
Go Generic. Some year you might be able to afford full-sized, name brand sweets. But perhaps it’s just not in the budget this year. You may want to consider a less pricey path. Look for generic brands of candy instead of the big ticket confections. Or, sometimes the plain wrapped counterpart found in the candy aisle instead of the seasonal aisle comes in a cheaper cost.
Break Out the Popcorn. If your friends and neighbors know you, consider popping popcorn and setting up a popcorn bar with different seasonings and toppings instead of handing out candy. Strangers might be a bit more wary of unwrapped foods. But most people enjoy a little salty with the sweet. You could even pass out warm apple cider to worn out parents of little goblins.
Fast Food Coupon Booklets, for the win. Each year, a number of Fast Food franchises including McDonalds and Wendy’s offer coupon booklets for a $1 or less. You could choose to split booklets up and hand them out to your trick-or-treaters.
Trick-or-treating doesn’t have to terrorize your wallet. Halloween fun can be had without spending anything at all. Traditions and holidays don’t have to sidetrack you from your greater financial goals.
Don’t forget to leave your favorite childhood costume in the comments and a Halloween money saving tip of your own!
Have you heard the news? It’s the 12th Anniversary of our LWSL Holiday Planner! For…
LWSL & Co. Favorite 5 It seems crazy that it's fall already, but we can…
Lisa's Favorite 5 I'm a busy wife, mom, and gigi, so I'm all about finding…
Feeling like your finances are out of control can be downright scary. Don't miss these…
Amanda's Favorite 5 Do you spend so much time pouring into everyone else in your…
Danny's Favorite 5 Need some gift ideas for the Dads in your life? I've got…
Simplify your life in just 3 simple steps. Get our Living Well Starter Guide, absolutely free!
View Comments
My favorite costume as a child was a hobo (Kids may not even know that term!) I found old baggy clothes, a felt hat, put vaseline on my chin, cheeks and upper lip, pasted in coffee grounds, and tied some sneakers to my feet! I loved it!
Thanks Ruth for the Halloween money saving ideas. I'm retired and need to save my money.
Hi,
Great post! I especially love the idea of shopping for pajamas as Halloween costume. After reading it, I was in Walmart the other day and saw a ton of cute options - from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Wonder Woman and Minions. Thanks for that idea!
I actually wrote a roundup of my Halloween savings ideas as well. Thought you might like it: http://fitfamilyfinances.com/15-ways-save-money-halloween/
Thanks again!
Hello I did enjoy your article & agree on the pumpkin part. Even as a kid I got over the part of putting in time and effort to carve a pumpkin, just to have it slowly rot away before my enjoyment of it had gone. My idea would be to either just get a regular sized pumpkin to set out (uncarved & drawn on, or painted - so as to last longer). Or go to the decorations aisle, or nearby craft store and get a 'fake' pumpkin. These can range from having brighter or multicolored outsides to sparkles or funny faces. I have even seen some that used cucumbers, squash, or other veggies as what they were fashioned after. These seemed nice and out-of-the-ordinary enough to make me smile and enjoy them.
I also remember in my neighborhood my aunt giving me whole fruit one year, which I liked. I just don't remember if that was her handout for that year or she just gave me some when we came by. And my favorite costumes were Casper (semi-made) Casper mask with dark sheet covering body, and a felt Monkey Costume made for me :) .
Love it, great post! I especially love the idea of giving out something other than candy to kids. I think I might try stickers this year!
Hi,
Great post! I was a California Raisin when I was about 10... My whole costume was a trash bag with some paper eyes I drew and taped onto the bag and my brother's converse sneakers...the Raisins were popular on TV that year. I thought it was clever, but the adults, where I trick or treated, asked if I was a bag lady....not cool :(