DIY Tricks to Make Halloween a Financial Treat

Holidays can be expensive. Halloween is no exception. In addition to costumes, decorations and tasty treats, hosting a Halloween party could place a strain on your budget. But it doesn’t have to! 

With a little creativity and ‘witch-craftiness’, you can throw the ultimate Halloween party without breaking the bank.

Kids DIY Halloween Costumes

One of the greatest things about kids is their boundless imagination, and Halloween is the perfect holiday to let it run wild. Whatever your child would like to dress up as this year, there are ways to get it done without buying an expensive pre-made costume from the department store.

Here are four ways to create a budget-friendly DIY costume:

1.  Go through the closets! 
   It’s very likely that you or your child have some articles of clothing that fit the costume idea perfectly or could work with a couple tweaks. Recycle old Halloween costumes, and don’t forget to hunt for things like old curtains or tablecloths that can be used to make new costume clothing.
2.  Head to a thrift store! 
   Thrift stores are incredibly valuable sources of costume materials and are often much less expensive than buying anything new. You will likely find older costumes that people have donated over the years to choose from. This is also a great place to find those articles of clothing that you maybe didn’t have on hand.
3.  Ask other parents! 
   Organize a costume swap with other parents you know. This is a great way to make space by getting rid of old costumes as well as save money. Make it an annual tradition and keep the cycle going.
4.  Break out the craft supplies! 
   Sewing machines, glue guns, scissors and spray paint are all excellent tools to have on hand at Halloween. If you can’t find something affordable that is absolutely necessary for the costume, like a cape or a set of wings, you can make it! 

DIY Halloween Decorations

Decorating the house for your Halloween party is a great way to showcase your creativity, especially using these budget-friendly DIY tips:

• Clean and save 1-gallon milk jugs in October, then draw ghost faces on them with a black marker. Fill the jug with white twinkle lights and you have a reusable jack o’ lantern!
• Buy white streamer rolls and use it to wrap your door in an overlapping pattern, and then put a big pair of eyes (made from black and white construction paper) onto the streamers to create a ‘mummy’ door.
• Splash white napkins with red Kool-Aid and use plastic vampire teeth as napkin ring holders
• Build cobweb drink coasters by attaching 5 bobby pins to a flat metal washer, then stringing twine between them to make a web. Spray paint white and attach a small plastic spider
• Finally, find an orange pumpkin to turn it into a classic jack o’ lantern by carving a spooky face and using a candle to illuminate

Get crafty with your decorating and give your Halloween party the perfect look, without the ‘scary’ shopping bill.

Halloween Party Treat Ideas

Arguably the best part about Halloween is the delicious candy and other treats that always make an appearance. But loading up on candy and baked goods at the grocery store can cost much more than you are willing to spend on sugary snacks. Here are 5 ways to make your own affordable treats:

• Buy Halloween themed paper from the dollar store, roll into cones, and fill with popcorn.
• Wrap suckers in a white napkin, tie at the head with a pipe cleaner and draw on a ghost face
• Make boxed chocolate cupcakes with white icing, and use three chocolate chips to make a ghost face
• Go through your pantry and make your own party-mix, using items like:
  • Raisins
  • Chocolate chips
  • Pretzels
  • Dry cereal
  • Animal crackers
  • Popcorn

Throw in a handful of candy corn and voila! Halloween snack mix.

• Use an edible marker to draw ghost faces on marshmallows, then stick them on a skewer and stand up on a cake or from a pumpkin

These are just a few affordable ways to feed your Halloween-party guests. Look for more ideas online, ask friends about their favorite recipes and think outside the box. Remember, the goal is to stay on budget while still enjoying the holiday.

As mentioned, holidays can be expensive. With a little effort and organization, you can keep hundreds of dollars in your own pocket and still have a spooktacular Halloween!