Princesses and monsters coming to our homes on Halloween night is no big fright, but the costs of celebrating might be scarier than you think. Last year, Americans spent $8 billion on Halloween retail shopping, or roughly $92 per person.1 Don’t let Halloween haunt your budget this year – rake in the savings by following our tips and tricks to have a frightfully good time while keeping your finances intact.
Hunt for Cost-Efficient Costumes
You can’t have Halloween without costumes – but you can save on buying a new, costly one each year. Think outside of the box and search around your home for fun props and accessories you and your children can turn into a spooky sight. Or, head to your local consignment or thrift store and turn costume shopping into a game: Whoever can dig through the racks to find costume materials for less wins. You might be surprised at how much fun shopping on a budget can be!
Reuse Decorations
Whether you turn your home into a real-life haunted house or put a few pumpkins on your front stoop, buying new Halloween décor every year can rip into your budget. Rather than cutting down on decorations, cut down on the price tag. You can also select items you want to reuse next year instead of trashing them all at the end of the season.
Don’t Overload on Candy
Candy is another Halloween staple, and it often does not come cheap. Skip the full-size chocolate bars and opt for the bag of assorted candy to feed the ghouls in your neighborhood this year. Plus look out for any coupons and two-for-one deals. Then, take notice of how many visitors your house gets to plan for next year’s candy and avoid overbuying.
Keep Pumpkins in Perspective
Pumpkins are great décor to represent the Halloween spirit. However, they turn into piles of mush a few weeks after you buy them. Keep your spending in check this season by initiating a budget of $10 – $20 on pumpkins. Also, purchase your pumpkins at your local grocery store to stretch your dollar further.
Fall into Budget-Friendly Activities
Harvests, hayrides and campfires – oh, my! Fall activities do not need to cost an arm and a leg. Take a walk around a farm, search through a corn maze or enjoy a hayride for a low cost. Make new fall family memories by driving through scenery of changing leaves, picking apples, making caramel apples or pumpkin pie, watching your favorite fall movies or having a scavenger hunt at your local park.
Visit our website to find out how we can help you save this season – and throughout the year.