Slash Your Halloween Costs: DIY Costumes and Affordable Treats Unveiled!

Economize on Candy

The cost of candy has increased due to the rising prices of ingredients and manufacturing processes. For example, a 22-pack of Haribo Starmix at Tesco is now priced at £3, up from £2.35 last year.

Additionally, chocolate prices have surged by 18.1% over the past year up to September, according to recent statistics.

To minimize Halloween expenses, consider buying in bulk and carefully checking package details. “Opt for individually wrapped candies – they maintain freshness longer, are more hygienic, and there’s less waste if not all are given away,” suggests Zoe Morris of VoucherCodes, a budgeting expert. “Also, purchase candies that your family likes so nothing goes to waste if you have leftovers.”

Morris advises to compare prices per kilogram, but also to consider the quantity per package, especially if you plan to give out one treat per visitor.

Currently, B&M offers a 36-pack of Tricky Treats Popping Candy for £1, while Morrisons has a 16-pack of Swizzels Luscious Lollies for £1.25 (or £1 with a More Card). Asda is selling a 22-bag Haribo Share the Happy multipack for £1.98.

Create Your Own Costumes

Utilizing existing clothes is a great way to save on costumes. For instance, a black top and homemade ears attached to a headband can transform you into a mysterious black cat.

While a vampire costume might cost around £20 on Amazon, you might find a suitable white shirt at a local thrift store and accessorize with black fabric and makeup to achieve a similar look at a lower cost.

Get inventive with props too: attach googly eyes to a black umbrella and hang black fabric strips to create a creepy spider, or use a mix of flour, water, and red food coloring to add fake blood stains to old clothes for a zombie outfit.

Avoid Excessive Decor

The average UK shopper purchases about 10 Halloween items each year, with many items ending up as waste, reports a Gumtree study from 2024.

“You don’t need expensive items from specialty stores to create memorable decorations,” explains Jessie Brooks from Davincified. “Effective decorations can be made from simple materials already in your home.”

You can create eerie effects by cutting out cardboard shapes like bats or creepy hands and hanging them around your house. Use white balloons or old sheets with glow sticks to make hovering ghosts, or decorate plant pots with markers or adhesive felt to resemble pumpkin faces.

If you choose to buy decorations, opt for reusable ones. For instance, a spider doorstop from Cancer Research for £6.99 not only serves as a decoration but can be useful around the house all year. Also, consider visiting charity shops after Halloween to find decorations at reduced prices.

Organize Group Activities

“Staying in or attending house parties can be much less expensive than going out,” points out James Andrews from Be Clever With Your Cash.

While family outings like Legoland Windsor’s Brick or Treat could cost upwards of £130 for a family of four, at-home parties with simple, low-cost games like apple bobbing or pin the wart on the witch can provide affordable fun.

You can even recreate a haunted house experience at home using DIY decorations, costumes, and a free sound effects app to set a spooky atmosphere.

“Halloween is all about creativity,” Andrews notes. “With some planning, you can enjoy the festivities without scaring your budget.”

Frugal Pumpkin Purchases

Many supermarkets offer discounts on pumpkins. Sainsbury’s sells carving pumpkins at £2 (or £1.75 with a Nectar card), while Asda offers them for £1.88, and Aldi has them for just 42p.

Consider visiting a free pumpkin patch, such as Orway Porch farm in Devon or Doddington Hall in Lincolnshire. After carving, don’t discard your pumpkin; use the flesh to make soups or purees, and explore recipes like pumpkin and parmesan crumble or Mauritian curry.

However, avoid using pumpkins that have been left outside or near flames due to bacteria risks.

Find Deals on Halloween Movies

Nothing sets the Halloween mood like a horror film. Look for special offers on movies from providers like the Sky Store, which features titles like Weapons and 28 Years Later.

Streaming services often add seasonal films around Halloween. For instance, Netflix offers Beetlejuice and The Witches, Disney+ has The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus, and Amazon Prime features Corpse Bride.

Consider signing up for a free trial to binge-watch your favorite spooky films, or opt for a cheaper subscription with ads, now available on platforms like Disney+ and Netflix for around £5.99 per month.

Cinemas like Cineworld also offer Halloween specials, with tickets priced at £5.99. In London, a popup outdoor cinema by Time Out offers tickets for £6.66, showing films like Addams Family Values and Gremlins.