More than 171 million Americans plan to celebrate Halloween this year, spending an average $82.93, up from last year’s $74.34. Total spending is expected to reach $8.4 billion, an all-time high in the history of NRF’s annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights. The survey finds that 7 in 10 consumers plan to hand out candy, and nearly half will decorate their home or dress in costume, according to the National Retail Federation.
In light of those statistics, we put together this list with the help of Moneycrashers on how to save money this Halloween on decor, food, and of course costumes.
Decor
Buy Cheap Pumpkins. If I skipped carving a pumpkin altogether, my kids would stage a revolt. However, while we still carve pumpkins, I buy them at the grocery store for better pricing. And everyone gets their own pumpkin.
Make a Bat Cave. If you have a pair of scissors and some black construction paper, turn a room in your house into a “bat cave.” Start by printing out a few bat shapes from your computer, then cut them out to use as templates. Trace the shapes onto black construction paper and cut those out, too. You can then tape a whole bevy of bats to the walls in your home.
Costumes
Use Items You Already Own. You’d be surprised what you can find in your closet that will make a great costume. But if you need any inspiration check out our post about easy DIY costumes.
Swap with a Friend. When my kids were younger, my friends and I were always passing along costumes that didn’t fit from the year before to friends. A couple of years, we had choices of costumes – one for parties and one for trick-or-treating.
Food
Donut Eating Contest- If you decided to host a party or just have the neighborhood kids over, have a donut eating contest. Grab a dozen donuts at your grocery store bakery, attach each to a long dowel with a piece of string. Instruct the kids to try and eat the hanging donut without hands while two adults hold the dowel horizontally. It’s a fun game to fill little bellies and pass the time until trick-or-treating.
Float “Eyeballs.” Frozen fruit is a great alternative to ice cubes in punch: It keeps drinks cold and won’t dilute the flavor. The night before your party, throw a bag of green grapes into your freezer. Then, whip up a bowl of your favorite red punch. Just before guests arrive, pour in the frozen grapes, which look like creepy floating eyeballs. The best part? No need to buy and replenish ice.
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