Halloween on a Budget: Save on Costumes, Candy & Décor

Halloween has crept a long way from its eerie origins. While All Hallows’ Eve has transformed through the centuries, it wasn’t until the 1930s that trick-or-treating became a tradition in the U.S. and businesses began conjuring up mass-produced Halloween costumes. Now, Halloween is a monster-sized, billion-dollar industry, with a cauldron full of costumes and decorations ranging from the mainstream to the macabre. If you want to keep this Halloween on a budget, we have some tips and tricks for you to do just that below.

Set a Halloween budget ahead of time

Spending less on Halloween starts with setting a budget. Even with the holiday just around the corner, it’s still a good idea to outline what you need and set a spending limit. By planning ahead, you can still find last-minute deals on costumes, candy, and more, helping you avoid overspending.

How to save on costumes

Costumes are a Halloween must — they’re a fun way to break out of the everyday routine and enjoy the festive spirit. Here’s how to get into the Halloween mood without spending a fortune on costumes:

Check your closet and your storage unit

Before rushing to the store to buy something new, raid your closet and attic for your existing costumes. It’s always fun to uncover hidden treasures that you might have forgotten about. That Captain Hook costume you dug out of a forgotten box could be a lifesaver for your Halloween options if you’re in a pinch and unsure of what to wear.

If you’re renting self storage(opens in new tab), check your storage unit for any hidden gems. You might find a costume or two tucked away that could be repurposed for this year’s Halloween. Old clothes, accessories, or even fabric scraps could inspire something new.

And if you’re feeling crafty, take a closer look at what you’ve stored—things like old curtains, hats, belts, or even holiday decorations could spark some creative costume ideas. These items could be perfect for DIY costume-making. A vintage outfit might transform into a ghostly gown, an old jacket into a pirate coat, or spare white fabric into a Roman toga. You could even repurpose an emptied moving box into a wearable castle(opens in new tab) — ideal for a kid who dreams of being the king (or queen!) of their own castle. With a little paint and creativity, that box could become a royal fortress costume. These are just a few ideas, but your storage unit might hold the key to a creative and budget-friendly Halloween look!

Extra tip: If you haven’t used the service before but you’re contemplating using self storage for the first time(opens in new tab), putting your costumes in storage is a great way to keep them until next year so that you won’t have to buy new ones and keep your home uncluttered at the same time.

Pick a climate-controlled unit(opens in new tab) that has the ideal temperature and humidity conditions so that your costumes can stay in great shape. You’ll be fine with a 5’x5’ unit(opens in new tab), that can house your costumes and some of your Halloween decor. If you discover you need to store other items as well, consult this storage unit guide(opens in new tab) and this storage unit calculator(opens in new tab) to help you better assess your storage needs.

Organize a costume swap

Consider how many times you have actually worn the same costume(s), both for your child and yourself. Not a lot, most likely. If you have children, you can organize a costume swap with your neighbors and exchange costumes so that your child can have a new costume this year.

Rent costumes

You can find costumes to rent, whether in store or online. Head to renttherunway.com(opens in new tab) to find various costumes or rentaromper.com(opens in new tab) for children’s costumes. You won’t spend as much as when buying one, and you’re more likely to have a unique or different costume if you choose this option.

Buy a costume at a thrift store or a discount store

A thrift store can always be a treasure trove of spooky costumes or Halloween outfits you can creatively put together yourself. That red sweater, a white shirt and a tie will magically get you a Mister Rogers costume – now Halloween can be a spooky and beautiful day in the neighborhood! You might get a wider selection of stores if you live in one of the best places for thrifting(opens in new tab) such as Denver, Seattle or Portland. If you need a new costume, you can try a discount retailers such as T.J. Maxx or Marshalls where kids’ costumes come with an attractive price tag.

How to save on candy

Candy is another Halloween essential that can be a money-drainer. Consider some strategies such as these to cut down on expenses for the holiday:

Keep track of how many trick-or-treaters you’re getting

If you haven’t started doing this yet, perhaps it would be a good idea to keep track of how many children are knocking on your door on All Hallows’ Eve to help you determine how much candy you’re going to need the following year. This way, you’re more likely to avoid under- or overspending on candy shopping.

Be strategic about when you’re shopping for candy

You could be tempted to buy candy early, but you also run the risk of eating some or most of it before you hear the eerie call of the trick-or-treaters. Save yourself the temptation and buy the candy the day before Halloween when retailers begin to markdowns, if you can wait. Another idea is to buy candy you’re not going to be tempted to eat – replace some of your favorite with other candy and place it in a container that’s not see-through.

Plus, candy and sweets can be bought at massive discounts throughout the year, so another idea is simply not to wait until October to stock up. These treats have long shelf lives, meaning you can take advantage of post-Easter or post-Valentine’s Day sales and grab plenty of delicious sweets for Halloween. The real challenge? Making sure the candy actually lasts until Halloween!

Shop for candy in bulk

Go to the larger retailers such as Costco or Sam’s Club and shop for candy in bulk. You can find the candy of your choice in larger bag. Also, skip the chocolate and buy hard candy, as this comes with a better price tag. You can also shop online for bulk candy to see if they have good deals on the sweets that you’re thinking about buying – couponing can help reduce the overall cost of your order too.

Mix-and-match brand names and generic candy

You can also buy generic for a more budget-minded approach to your Halloween candy. Trick-or-treaters are going to load up on plenty of sugar anyway, whether it’s the brand-name candy or not.

Include fun items in the candy mix

Combine your candy with Halloween-themed items kids love, such as spider rings or glow-in-the-dark bracelets to give away with your candy. They might cost as much as candy, but the good news is that you can add any leftovers to your trick-and-treat bowl for next year.

How to save on Halloween decorations

Decorating your home with décor is part of the Halloween magic. How do you conjure up the spirit of spook and gloom without breaking the bank? Check out these ideas:

Go easy on décor

Apply a minimalist approach to your Halloween décor strategy. Ask yourself if you really need to fill all of your lawn and front porch with inflatables, skeletons and other spook-inducing decorations. You can still create an eerie atmosphere with some spiderweb décor on the grass and some pumpkins with garland lights for a less-is-more effect. It’s easier to use what you already have in terms of décor both indoors and outdoors than to buy new every year.

Get new decorations on the cheap

If you’re a little short on decorations, we get it. They might deteriorate, break, or look outdated, but you can get new décor to refresh your home’s Halloween atmosphere. You can find great decorations for less outside of regular stores and save in the meantime if you shop in this way:

• Dollar stores

Dollar stores can be treasure troves of decorations that are easy on the wallet. Be on the lookout for spider webs, masks and hats, streamers, Halloween-themed tablecloths and icing for a tasty treat.

• Garage sales and thrift stores

Look for garage sales in your community and the nearby neighborhoods, as you might find just the décor you were looking for. Similarly, second-hand stores frequently carry Halloween decorations at a fraction of the price you’d pay at a regular store.

DIY your Halloween décor

If skill and time are on your side, you can personalize your décor by making it yourself. There are simple projects you can do that can impress your guests, whether they’re trick-or-treaters or friendly ghosts – gasp! Check out these Halloween DIY decorations(opens in new tab) for a little bit of inspiration.

Make decorations using what you find in storage

While you’re looking for the perfect costume, keep an eye out for potential décor material. That’s the biggest trick if you want to know how to decorate for Halloween on a budget. Glass jars can become creepy-crawly lanterns, paper bags can become witch boots, and cardboard boxes are perfect for some background mise-en-scène. Cut them up into ghosts, jack-o’-lanterns or whatever your Halloween theme dictates this year. You’ll need some paint for that one. While you’re at it, you can paint some rocks and toilet paper rolls to build up the local color of your spooky land. If you’re a renter, just try to keep the surfaces of the walls and doors intact – your landlord may be less impressed by your home’s creepy makeover.

Some items may not be obvious candidates for your Halloween decorations, but keep in mind that you can repurpose almost anything. You can make scarecrows out of clothes your kids have outgrown and turn embroidery hoops or hula hoops into Halloween garlands with spooky spider webs. For a more immersive atmosphere, you could put some creepy labels on old books and empty bottles. And if you find some empty picture frames, you can fill them with whatever sinister photos or drawings that you see most fit in the eerie world you’re putting together. Because that’s what this is all about: The art of worldbuilding where all is scary, save for the cost (which can be zero).

Shop for pumpkins last

You can’t really spell “jack-o-lantern” without pumpkins, right? Technically, you can, but there’s no Halloween without the big round vegetable that’s so versatile décorwise. Buy your pumpkins a day or two before the holiday, as you might get themt at a discount at your local grocery store. Besides, you won’t run the risk of them going bad before the big day. To make the most it, you can cook them after Halloween is over. Add pumpkin puree to pasta or bake the seeds to enjoy later as a snack.

Get outlet timers for your Halloween decorations

If elaborate Halloween displays in your home and front yard are your thing, you’ve probably noticed a spike in your electric bill around this time of year. While it’s fun to enjoy the spooky ambiance, there’s no need to keep everything powered up 24/7. Limit the displays to evenings and invest in an outlet timer to automatically turn them off during the rest of the day, saving both energy and money.

Save on Halloween greeting cards by going DIY

If you’re wondering whether anyone is still sending those Halloween cards every year, the answer is “yes.” In 2023, Americans spent $500M on Halloween greeting cards(opens in new tab), a little lower than in 2022. It seems someone is spending their money on this type of item. You can keep the tradition alive, but instead of buying them, you can make them yourselves. Involve your children in this project – the cards are sure to cheer up your family and friends’ mailboxes with some frightfully endearing creations.

Look for free activities in your area

Tickets to activities like haunted houses, pumpkin patches or other seasonal festivities quickly add up. Fortunately, in many communities, there are some free-admission activities for Halloween, so keep an eye out for them. If you’re not already part of local social media groups, make sure to join some, as they’re the best places to learn about different Halloween-themed activities in your area that might be free of charge.

Come up with your own fun events

Instead of taking your kids to one or two expensive Halloween-themed activities, why not turn your own backyard into a fun hot spot and invite your kids’ friends to join in as well? You need just a handful of materials and accessories to ramp up Halloween fun right at home(opens in new tab).

• Instead of purchasing a lot of pumpkins for decor and for carving, which will inevitably end up in the trash, set your kids up with some dollar store paints or markers and some mini pumpkins. Let the kids decorate the mini pumpkins with fun designs, silly faces or spooky scenes.
• Rake up a big pile of leaves and let the kids jump in! It’s a simple, classic fall activity that’s always a hit and totally free.
• Pick up some glow sticks and toss them around yard stakes or bottles for a Halloween-themed ring toss game, perfect for when it starts getting dark.
• Set up a simple “haunted” maze using sheets, blankets and cardboard boxes. Add spooky sound effects with a phone or speaker, and let the kids walk through for some lighthearted scares.
• Use cheap toilet paper or crepe paper and have kids work in teams to wrap each other up like mummies. The first team to wrap their mummy wins!
• Let the kids help make simple treats like popcorn balls, caramel apples or decorated sugar cookies. It’s a fun activity and a tasty snack in one!

Shop for next year’s Halloween costumes and decor this November

Planning a fun and low-cost Halloween this year can be an engaging challenge, but make sure you extend the same thrifty enjoyment into the future too. Maybe you’re not the type of person who wants to spend time making their own costume, but you still want to dress to impress when spooky time comes around next year. There’s one cost-saving option for this Halloween goal as well, and it all has to do with timing. Let’s think: When is the best time to shop for Halloween(opens in new tab)? You guessed it: It’s November 1st! As a matter of fact, you can stock up for the whole family with costumes around this time, and let the excitement grow until October 2025. In the meantime, you can devise the perfect character backstories to draw from when the time is right. This is also a good time to shop for Halloween decorations, as they are likely to be on sale as well.

Hold on to your costumes and decorations

It’s smarter, both financially and environmentally, to purchase good quality items that you can reuse year after year. Even if you might want different costumes in different years for you and your children, owning several different ones that can be easily combined and tweaked into something new is a good idea. The same goes for decorations(opens in new tab): purchase sturdier ones now and enjoy them year after year, with small touch-ups, instead of dumping them in the trash after just one use.

Storage space at home can be an issue but one that you can easily fix by renting a self storage unit located close to your home(opens in new tab). A 5’x5’ storage unit(opens in new tab), which is just large enough to allow you to store your Halloween decorations and costumes, as well as other holiday decorations, rents for about $54 per month at a national level.

Of course, prices vary significantly depending on location. For example, renting this type of storage unit in New York City(opens in new tab) hovers around $85, while one in Austin, Texas(opens in new tab), is just under $50. Considering that you can safely store all your holiday-related decorations, accessories, costumes and such, and you don’t have to buy new items each year, this strategy will save you money in the long run.

Halloween On A Budget: FAQs

How to decorate for Halloween on a budget?

Think spooky, not spendy. The trick is to look at what you already own with fresh (and slightly haunted) eyes. Empty jars can become lanterns with a tea light tucked inside. Cardboard boxes can transform into tombstones, bats, or even a makeshift haunted house backdrop. Clothes your kids have outgrown? Stuff them with old newspaper and you’ve got a scarecrow guardian for your front porch. The best part? All these props might already be hiding in your storage unit, waiting to be reborn under the glow of October moonlight.

How to throw a Halloween party on a budget?

A Halloween party doesn’t need a ballroom or a bottomless budget. Clear out your living room (storage can help with that), string up some DIY cobwebs from yarn or cotton, and let mood lighting do the heavy lifting. Serve a bubbling “witch’s brew” with fruit punch and soda, then sprinkle in a few budget-friendly snacks from the dollar store or your pantry. Guests usually remember the laughter and the costumes more than the catering, so lean into creativity over cost.

How can I save money on Halloween?

Plan, repurpose, and store smart. Costumes don’t need to be store-bought when you can pull together clever looks from clothes and props you already have. Decorations? See above – DIY is king. And when November 1st hits, scoop up costumes and décor on clearance, then tuck them safely into climate-controlled storage so they’re good as new next year.

In the end, self storage is the overlooked trick that helps you treat yourself to a more affordable Halloween. And remember: Store your spooky supplies properly and plan ahead – or face a real fright next Halloween!