Halloween on a Budget

Spooky season is upon us! Whether you love the fall decor, the playful Halloween costumes, the fun get-togethers, or just an excuse to eat candy, it’s easy to overspend this time of year.

We’ve put together some ideas for keeping your family’s budget in check this Halloween season.

Ideas for Halloween on a budget

There are plenty of ways to get creative with Halloween for those on a budget. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate Halloween without breaking the bank:

DIY decorations

Making your own Halloween decorations on a budget is part of the fun! Just think, the most iconic decoration of all — the jack-o’-lantern — is DIY decor.

Thrift stores hold countless budget-friendly possibilities for Halloween. For instance, you can give old glass bottles new life by adding spooky-themed sticker labels that say things like, “witch’s brew,” “bat wings,” and “vampire venom.”

Try making your own bat branch centerpiece if you need a showstopper for a Halloween party. All you need are thin branches, bat-shaped cardstock cutouts, a vase, and some glue!

Create your own Halloween costumes

The average Halloween costume costs about $45, with many popular retail options selling for twice that amount. Creating Halloween costumes on a budget can be a challenge, but it’s generally the more affordable alternative.

Even if you don’t own a sewing machine, you’ll find plenty of no-sew costume ideas online that use felt, glue, artificial flowers, and other items. Now’s your chance to get creative (and get the kids involved)!

Try an easy Halloween party food recipe

If you’re hosting a Halloween party on a budget this season, plan a fun menu consisting of appetizers, sweet treats, and other finger foods to keep costs low.

Halloween party food on a budget doesn’t have to be boring! Taste of Home has a great collection of simple Halloween recipes worth checking out.

For example, the sweet-and-salty witches’ fingers recipe only requires pretzel rods, jellybeans, green melting candy disks, and a microwave. Prepare a few of these Halloween-themed treats and your guests will be raving!

Host a Halloween movie night

If you want to keep your Halloween social event simple, host a movie night! It’s one of those cheap and easy Halloween party ideas everyone loves.

While you can serve some of the previously mentioned recipes, a great movie night only needs popcorn, candy, and drinks — which is great when you’re on a tight budget.

Popular movies you can show at a Halloween party include:

• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
• Scream (1999)
• Hocus Pocus (1993)
• The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
• The Addams Family (1991)
• Halloween (1978)
• Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Make your own Halloween candy bags

Crafting your own Halloween candy bags to hand out to trick-or-treaters adds an extra special touch to the occasion. Candy bags also allow you to portion out treats in advance.

For ghostly candy bags, adhere googly eyes to white wax paper bags. If you want to get a little more creative, poke holes near the opening for a Halloween-themed ribbon.

Go to a local Halloween event

When you’re on a tight budget, skip hosting your own Halloween party and go to a local event instead!

Many communities host corn mazes, haunted houses, bar crawls, fun runs, murder mystery dinners, costume contests, and other affordable Halloween events.

How to create a Halloween budget

Referring to your Halloween budget can help you keep your finances in check all season long. But how do you create a Halloween budget? Here are a few tips that can help:

1. Set your spending limit

The amount you choose to spend on Halloween will vary according to your finances. The average consumer spends about $102 on Halloween , which includes greeting cards, candy, decorations, and costumes.

2. Choose a budgeting method

There are many budgeting methods you can use to set aside money for seasonal celebrations like Halloween.

The traditional budgeting method is simply reviewing your income and expenses to see where you can cut back on spending. You might discover that cutting a couple of streaming services and avoiding going out to a restaurant once a week for a month will free up the Halloween spending money you need.

Halloween is also a good time to practice value-based budgeting. This method involves listing the things in your life that hold the most value and allocating portions of your disposable income for them.

For example, you might value a high-quality Halloween costume. If the costume costs $85 and your Halloween budget is $100, that leaves $15 for everything else. You may need to DIY your decor and greeting cards, but you’re able to splurge on the item that mattered.

3. Stick to your budget

Once you’ve decided on your Halloween budget and budgeting method, stick to it! Don’t spend over your set limit, no matter how tempting it might be.

4. Adjust your budget as needed

There may be instances when it’s okay to adjust the Halloween budget you originally set. If you get some unexpected cash, for instance, you may want to put it toward new fall decor or an upgraded costume.

How to supplement your Halloween budget

Budgeting sounds easy in theory, but if you never have any money left over after paying for bills and necessities, you might consider taking out a loan. Here are a few ways we can help supplement your Halloween budget and get you the extra cash you need:

Payday loans

Also called a cash advance, a payday loan allows you to borrow a small amount of extra money and repay it with your next paycheck. It’s a great option if you need some last-minute Halloween items but you don’t get paid until after October 31st.

Installment loans

If you need to borrow a larger amount than you can get with a payday loan, consider an installment loan. Installment loans also let you repay what you owe over a longer period, making the payments easy to budget.

Lines of credit

Having an open line of credit means you’ll have access to extra cash whenever you need it. A line of credit works similarly to a credit card in that you’re approved for a maximum borrow amount. You then draw cash as needed up to your approved limit and only pay interest on the amount you borrow.

Title loans

If you’re looking to cover other expenses beyond Halloween, consider a title loan. A title loan lets you borrow money based on your vehicle’s appraised value, so you might use the funds to cover seasonal costs, pay medical bills, or consolidate debt.

Celebrate Halloween on a budget

It can be difficult to celebrate Halloween on a tight budget, but there are many ways to get creative and have fun! And, if you need a little extra help, Advance America is always here with online loans and in-store financial products you can fall back on.

Apply now to get the cash you need for a happy Halloween!