With everything from ghosts and ghouls to witches and werewolves taking to the streets, Halloween is frightening enough already without having to think about spending a small fortune on costumes, events, and more.
However, if you can be a savvy spender, there are plenty of ways you can save a few pennies this Halloween.
Pick a low-cost pumpkin
Over the last few years, pumpkins have risen in price, and it won’t come as too much of a surprise to know that many retailers bump up their prices around Halloween to keep up with demand.
To ensure you get the best deal, it’s essential to shop around. Organic, farm-bought pumpkins are likely to cost more than supermarket produce. Similarly, it’s often a case of the bigger the pumpkin, the higher the price! Why not buy a few small pumpkins instead of one oversized one?
Having a few tiny pumpkins dotted around the home is not only a cutesy way to style your house this Halloween, it’s more cost-effective too.
Look out for promotions
Many supermarkets and toy stores will release store promotions surrounding the spooky month of Halloween. From themed sweets to healthier snacks, such as easy peeler clementines and mandarins, there are numerous deals to take advantage of, including three-for-two offers and buy one, get one free.
You’ll also notice different shops offering different deals. Don’t be afraid to buy one item from one supermarket and a different item from another in order to keep your costs down.
Create your own DIY decorations
There are plenty of decorations available to purchase for Halloween, although they often come in the shape of cheap, plastic creations. These tend to be a waste, as they’re often thrown out as soon as Halloween is over.
Instead of wasting money, you can also reduce your plastic use by getting creative and making your own DIY Halloween decorations. Not only can they be tailored to your taste, but it’s also a fun activity for kids to take part in and a great way to save money.
From carving pumpkins to crafting spooky bunting or styling scary outfits, go searching in charity shops for old sheets and dolls you can fashion into scary ghouls with a lick of paint. These outfits and accessories will often turn out better than those that can be purchased in a store.
Make your own Halloween costumes
Decorations aren’t the only thing you can craft at home. DIY costumes are another popular option and another easy way to save money this Halloween.
There are numerous tutorials online, all showing you how to fashion everything from ghouls out of bedsheets to terrifying looks using everyday makeup, and all without having to buy fake paint or fake blood – the options are endless.
Look to social media channels using hashtags and the likes of Pinterest for inspiration. All offer great imagery and tutorials, much of which you can view online or print out at home.
Find free events
From restaurants and bars to child-friendly venues, numerous establishments host free Halloween events. These are often advertised on the venue’s website or via their social media platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook.
They’re often free to attend and are suited to all ages, meaning you can enjoy scare season with the entire family and not have to worry about one member of the family missing out.
Watch scary movies
Looking for a way to entertain the family this Halloween that doesn’t cost the earth? Stock up on an assortment of sweet and savory treats and run a Halloween movie marathon. Rather than paying for a family cinema ticket, catch up on the classics at home instead.
You can either stream the movie or rent them. Why not go the extra mile and create themed food and ghoulish popcorn covered in edible blood? If entertaining you get children, create a fort in the living room and camp out for the evening.
Try traditional Halloween games
Instead of spending huge amounts on Halloween games, play free or low-cost games such as taking it in turns to tell scary stories, apple bobbing, hide and seek or who has the best Halloween costume.
If you’re looking for inspiration, there is plenty to be found online. You can also source old games at local markets or in charity shops, meaning you don’t have to pay a small fortune when it comes to investing in new game material.
Plan ahead for next year
The week after Halloween, most stores will still be overrun with scary merchandise. If you’re super organized, you can often bag yourself several bargains on various Halloween goods, all of which can be saved for next year.
Just make sure you have somewhere safe to store them. This is especially the case with costumes and other fancy dress and toy items.
Sources: which.co.uk, lifehack.org
Comments are closed.