Halloween can quickly become expensive once you add costumes, decorations, party food and activities to the list. The good news is that children don’t need all of it to have fun.
A few clever swaps can keep costs down while still giving them plenty to get excited about. From putting together Halloween costumes using things you already own to party games that cost next to nothing, here are some Halloween ideas that make your budget work harder.
Skip the Full Halloween Costume
Before buying a complete costume, work out which one or two details make the character instantly recognisable. You might find that’s all you really need.
A witch can start with black clothes from the wardrobe, then add a witch’s hat or striped tights. Cat ears, black clothes and a few whiskers drawn on with face paint make an easy cat costume. For a vampire, try a cape over a white shirt with slicked-back hair and painted fangs.
Hair accessories can work well too. Devil horns, animal ears, spooky clips or a Halloween headband add the important bit without paying for an outfit that might only be worn once.
If you’re handy with face paint, keep the design simple. A spider web around one eye, a little pumpkin on a cheek or a ghostly pale face can work better than attempting complicated Halloween face painting ideas ten minutes before you need to leave the house.
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Turn Halloween Crafts into a Party Activity
Instead of decorating everything before your Halloween party, leave some of it for the kids. Set up a small craft table with paper, crayons, stickers and child-safe craft supplies, then let them make decorations to put up around the house.
Simple Halloween craft ideas could include paper pumpkins, decorated ghosts or monster faces. For toddlers, pre-cut shapes make Halloween craft activities easier. They can colour, stick and decorate without needing much help.
It gives children an activity to enjoy during the party, and they get the fun of seeing their creations become part of the Halloween decorations. Better still, you’ve covered an activity and some of the decorating with the same handful of supplies.
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Try a Trick-or-Treat Surprise That Isn’t Sweets
Sweets don’t have to be the only thing in the trick-or-treat bowl. Small Halloween games, bracelets, window stickers and mini crafts give children something different to choose from without costing much.
You don’t need enough for every visitor either. Keep a small selection alongside the sweets and let children pick. Any leftovers can go into party bags or be saved for another Halloween activity, so nothing needs to go to waste.
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Pick the Part of Halloween They Care About Most
Before buying anything else, ask your child what they’re most excited about. If it’s dressing up, concentrate your budget on their costume and make the decorations together. If it’s having friends over, keep the costumes simple and spend instead on the Halloween party.
Choosing one part of the day to make a fuss of makes it much easier to decide what’s worth buying and where you can save.
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5 Cheap Halloween Ideas You Can Do at the Last Minute
1. Make a costume from clothes you already own and add a mask, hat or face pain
2. Print Halloween colouring pages for an instant activity or party table
3. Make paper Halloween decorations and let the kids put them up
4. Hide small Halloween toys for a spooky treasure hunt, giving us another natural use of the original article idea
5. Put together a five-minute Halloween game, such as pin the hat on the witch or Halloween musical statues
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