Best Halloween Ideas on a Budget

If you’re looking for the best Halloween ideas on a budget, you’ll find everything you need here. Learn how to find the best cheap Halloween decorations, ideas for costumes, and even the best candy deals to celebrate without breaking the bank!

Halloween can get expensive fast. Once you add up costumes, Halloween home decor, candy to pass out and school parties, that’s not a small number! Since Halloween is right before Thanksgiving and Christmas, it’s important not to overspend.

There are plenty of great Halloween ideas on a budget to save you money without cutting down on the fun. Use these budget-friendly ideas to inspire you this Halloween!

Halloween Ideas on a Budget

Cheap Halloween Costumes

The fastest way the cost for Halloween adds up for most families is the cost of Halloween costumes. It’s tough to keep from spending $200 for a family of four on costumes.

• Buy Smart. If you want to save on Halloween costumes, your best bet is to buy used, or to buy on clearance the year before.
• Swap Party. A new concept is a Halloween Costume Swap where several families can get together and swap costumes from years past.
• DIY. If you want to make your own costumes, it’s best to start early so you don’t run out of time. You can find some of the best DIY costumes HERE.

How much should a Halloween costume cost?

If you’re buying a child’s costume at a store like Walmart or Target, you can expect for them to cost $10-$40 each, depending on the costume.

Adult costumes are more expensive and can range from $20-$100 easily when bought at the same stores. Amazon can sometimes give you cheaper costs, but shipping times may be longer and quality less.

Cheap Halloween Decorations

Getting cheap Halloween decorations is a lot easier than you’d think! There are several different options for saving on Halloween home decor:

• Thrift Stores. A couple months before Halloween most thrift stores will put out their Halloween items for sale. Find something old and give it new life!
• After Halloween Clearance. Wait until after Halloween and take advantage of clearance sales to get cheap Halloween decorations for the next year.
• DIY. Make your own Halloween decorations! There are SO many DIY ideas that don’t take a lot of time or skill and can be used year after year.
• Dollar Store. The dollar store can have some really cute stuff! Find themed party decor, home decor, and more!

How can I make a cheap Halloween party?

You don’t need to go overboard to make a Halloween party everyone will remember! There are lots of ways to save money on Halloween parties and still ensure your guests have a BLAST!

• Potluck. Have guests bring a dish to share with everyone to help cut down on the cost of food. Most people love bringing a fun themed dish to a party!
• Decorations. Use the tips above to keep the price on decorations down. When in doubt get some generic black and orange balloons and tableware from the general party section, as decor tends to be cheaper when it isn’t holiday or event specific.
• Games. There are lots of games you can find that don’t need any supplies or items to make them fun! This list of free Halloween party games for kids (or here for adults) is a great resource to use.

Cheapest Halloween Candy

If you’re just planning on receiving trick-or-treaters at your house this year, you’ll want to know the cheapest Halloween candy options (that kids still love!) so you can pass out candy all night without breaking the bank.

• Skip the Chocolate. Chocolate is awesome, but gets really expensive really fast. Outside of that, dairy is a common allergy for kids, so you may be wasting money on premium candy kids won’t even be able to eat.
• Suckers. Suckers are an awesome candy that most kids love! They can be a really cheap Halloween candy option too. Dum-Dums are a great option for this idea.
• Buy in Bulk. Depending on the amount of kids you expect, it may be best to buy in bulk, than buying straight from the grocery store. 
• Off-brand. Consider buying your candy at stores like Aldi instead of Walmart or Target for the best deals on off-brand candy.
• Make Candy Bags. Instead of just letting kids grab their own candy, consider making pre-made baggies so you can ration how much each kid gets. 

General Halloween Ideas on a Budget

Outside of the specific tips listed above, there are some other things you can do to make Halloween awesome on a budget this year.

• Fall Decor. Instead of JUST decorating for Halloween, and then Thanksgiving separately, only buy decor that can be used for all of fall. Pumpkins, leaves, acorns, squash etc are all awesome for general fall decor that works all season long.
• Trick-or-Treating. If you can’t afford to hand out candy to the whole neighborhood from your front door, but still want to give candy to the special kids in your life, make fun treat bags! Tell friends and family you’ll be home and have a special treat for the kids so they know to come by even without leaving your light on for trick-or-treaters all night.
• DIY. When in doubt, make it yourself instead of buying it. There are SO MANY Halloween DIY ideas you can use from costumes to decor and even fun, themed treats. Make sure your DIY doesn’t cost more to buy the supplies to make than just buying it too, because sometimes supplies can add up!
• Reuse. Use what you already have. Remember that you don’t need to buy new things to make Halloween awesome and fun each year. Use the decor, costumes, or party supplies you already have on hand from year’s past instead of buying new each year.

Halloween is such a fun holiday. Enjoy yourself this year and make fun memories without overspending with these Halloween ideas on a budget. Which ideas will you use this year?