5 money-saving tips to celebrate Halloween.
Halloween is one of the truly great holidays, when children and adults alike shed their skins to become someone – or something – else for a night. No other holiday offers more opportunities for creativity and fun.
However, because the cost of living remains high, getting through it without overspending can be a challenge. So here are five money-saving tips to help you enjoy the thrills and chills without scaring your wallet!
DIY costumes
Making your own costumes using items you already have or can find at thrift stores is a simple way to keep costs from ballooning. Have a look at these cheap and cheerful costume ideas from Buzzfeed, or get together with your family or roommates and brainstorm based on the stuff you have available.
Group costume ideas (like dressing up as characters from a classic cartoon or TV show, the members of an iconic band or even a herd of animals) are a fun way to get everyone to participate. That way everyone can pool finds from their closets to complete the looks, resulting in a lower overall spend per person.
Budget-friendly decorations and candy
Creating a spooky ambience for your home or yard doesn’t have to cost a small fortune. Look to dollar stores, where streamers in traditional colours like black and orange and other inexpensive decorative items let you set the mood (often with a touch of humour) while staying within your budget. If you’re hosting a children’s party, just buy the raw supplies and make it a crafting activity!
What about candy? While grocery stores may offer you the best deals on some items when buying in bulk, the dollar stores remain worth exploring — you might be surprised how many popular brands they carry, often at a lower unit price than traditional grocery or drug stores.
Homemade party treats
Save money by making Halloween party treats at home. For example, try adding a spooky twist to candy apples with a gummy worm or two, or use black food colouring to turn clementines into mini-jack-o’-lanterns. Check out these recipe roundups from Chatelaine, Canadian Living and Woman’s Day for more Halloween party inspo.
Frugal party planning
Potluck gatherings are always a good option for getting together while keeping individual spends low. Spice up a Halloween potluck by choosing a theme and making it a competition, with awards for spookiest item, tastiest item, most creative item and so on.
Or consider hosting a scary movie night: a darkened room, a double-feature of horror films and a few tasty snacks is a great way to celebrate. Pick an old classic and pair it with a newer release for comparison!
Local festivals and pumpkin patches
For fall flavours and fun in the great outdoors, harvest festivals are hard to beat. Typical elements include local food, artisanal items, family activities, live entertainment and, of course, pumpkin-growing contests (also called weigh-offs). In 2023, Pumpkinfest in Port Elgin, ON, showcased a 1,600-pound pumpkin!
But it’s not just pumpkins. The UBC Apple Festival in Vancouver, as its name suggests, coincides with the apple harvest in British Columbia, while the PEI Fall Flavours Food and Drink Festival highlights local produce and seafood from Prince Edward Island. Check online for the best harvest festival near you.
Enjoy the season!
Celebrating Halloween in a budget-friendly way by following these tips means you can embrace the season fully while avoiding overspending. Remember, your own imagination and creativity are the most important ingredients for a scary and successful Halloween!
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