How To Make Spooky Savings this Halloween 2024
Editor's note: this blog post was originally written in October 2016 and has been updated for clarity and with the latest information. Enjoy!
Who doesn't love Halloween?
- Air starts getting cold
- Leaves start to turn
- It's socially acceptable to eat sweets for breakfast
- Dressing up!
It brings out the inner child in most of us, and it's really easy to get carried away with all the decorations, outfits and treats.
However, with Christmas just around the corner finding ways to save money is a top priority for a lot of us.
Want to enjoy a Halloween to remember that won't spook your bank account?
You're in luck!
I've found some great ways you can save some money, all the while enjoying your Halloween.
Let's get going...
Save money on Halloween costumes
Need some inspiration for a Halloween costume? Check out our ultimate list of 51 free (or very cheap) Halloween costume ideas - you'll be spoilt for choice!
Halloween costumes for kids
Get creative and DIY
Did anyone else don a black bin bag and call themselves a witch?
All you have to buy is a witch hat and a broom from the pound shop and you're good to go!
My sisters and I seriously looked the part and making our own costumes was all part of the fun.
Plus, you save so much money!
Recycle year after year for ultimate savings.
Don't forget the supermarket
IMHO, the supermarkets have the best offers when it comes to Halloween. Yet, for some reason, they are still overlooked by many parents this time of year.
Stores like Asda and Tesco have the most adorable outfits for your little monsters, with prices starting from just £7.
You can grab a brilliant deal for your kids, so next time you're doing your weekly shop, pop down the Halloween aisle and check it out.
Scout pound shops & bargain stores
Poundland, B&M and Home Bargains are your best friends around Halloween.
They're filled with great costumes, decorations, props, treats and lots more.
Top tip!
It's really easy to get carried away, so I recommend writing a list and deciding a budget beforehand to make sure you're still saving money in the long run.
Sell it on
If you give in and buy your little horrors an expensive Elsa Frozen Princess costume or Star Wars costume, try to keep them in decent condition and who knows?
You could sell it on eBay when you're done celebrating Halloween and make your money back. This goes for adult costumes too...
Swap with friends
Avoid the pressure of coming up with a new outfit every year by swapping with your friends that have children too.
Your children won't get caught in the same costume twice AND you'll save a bunch of money
No luck there?
Why not suggest the idea to your child's teacher?
Set up a Halloween Costume Swap event and get a brand new costume for your little one. Plus, you'll get to know the other parents in your child's class!
Halloween costumes for adults
Hunt in charity shops
It might not be the first place you'd think to look, but the humble charity shop is often a goldmine come Halloween time.
Lots of charity shops collect costume bits throughout the year so that for Halloween there's a dedicated spooky dressing up section.
You can grab a real bargain here and if you're looking for something particular, you could even leave your name and number with a friendly member of staff and ask them to give you a call if anything comes in.
Don't forget to return the good deed and donate it again after Halloween is over.
Check out car boot sales
Car boot sales are always a great place to pick up a bargain and Halloween costumes are no exception.
Savvy car boot sellers know what their audience is after, and around October I've seen many a car boot dedicated to Halloween.
Costumes, decorations, big bags of sweets and more!
Lots of costumes were a fraction of the price and some were even still in their original packaging. Score!
Search on Amazon
Everyone's fave online retailer is also a great place to look for your next Halloween costume.
Selling all the popular costume ideas for the year, as well as spooky makeup and funky wigs, Amazon is a fab place to get inspiration.
Top tip!
Don't get caught out with delivery. Always make sure your outfit is set to arrive before the big day (preferably a few days before, in case you need to make some changes!).
Better yet, sign up for Amazon Prime to get great deals and next day delivery on 1,000's of items.
First 30 days are free for new members!
Avoid gimmick costume stores
We've all seen them on the high street.
The shops that pop up around late September, early October and charge an absolute fortune for a costume with all the bells and whistles. If you're trying to cut costs this year, avoid these places like the plague!
Chances are you can get the same look for a lot cheaper if you shop around.
Save money on Halloween decorations
Get crafty & make your own Halloween decorations
Don't waste your hard earned cash on shop bought decorations when you can make your own at a fraction of the cost.
Check out these Free Halloween Printables from Wayfair for some inspiration to get crafting. It's your time to shine!
Hobbycraft have a great clearance sale all year round, so keep an eye out for some Halloween crafty goodies.
Pinterest, one of my all-time fave sites, is a really useful place to get inspiration for decorations. Check out these incredible homemade Halloween decoration ideas.
Limit the pricey pumpkins
I know, I know, it wouldn't be Halloween without a pumpkin.
But do you really need more than one?
Plus, don't go carving crazy without a plan. If you make a mistake you'll have to get another one = more cash spent.
Top tip!
Don't throw away your pumpkin innards. You can create some really delicious meals, check out these great pumpkin recipes.
Look out for freebies & special offers
Around Halloween time, brands jump on the seasonal bandwagon and often do great freebie giveaways based around Halloween.
Keep an eye on the Magic Freebies website for all the latest freebie finds. We do the legwork in looking for the giveaways, so all you need to do is check the site and apply for those that take your fancy!
Save money on Halloween treats
Keep the treats cheap
Kids don't care what brands of sweets you give them.
So long as they're getting a sweet treat, they're happy!
Don't waste your money on the big brands and go for supermarket essential ranges, or hit your local pound store and grab a huge bag of sweets from there.
Remember to not go overboard, especially if you live in a quiet area.
Save money on Halloween entertainment
Find nearby 'haunted' locations
Instead of hosting an expensive Halloween party, why not get your family and friends together and find your nearest haunted location?
You'd be surprised (and spooked!) about what you might find...
Plan a creepy scavenger hunt in your back garden
This is a great one for the kids.
Spread out some sweets and goodies in your back garden and keep the kids entertained for hours.
Tell creepy ghost stories
Light some candles, grab a cushion and let your imaginations completely spook you out!
Act stories out for each other and really get involved in this creepy free form of Halloween entertainment.
Host a scary movie night
Invite your family and friends round for a scary movie night.
Create a line-up of spooky films and tuck into your Halloween treats. Yum!
So there are my top tips for saving money on Halloween. I hope you've enjoyed these and don't forget to share your own!
Collette xx