Halloween spending in the U.S. hit a record $12.2 billion in 2023, with families shelling out more on costumes, candy, and decorations than ever before. For anyone managing debt — and really into Halloween! — that number could make your hair stand on end.
But celebrating Halloween doesn’t have to be a financial fright. With a little planning, creativity, and smart use of financial tools, like EarnIn, you could enjoy the fun without overspending.
To help you get started, below are five areas that hold big potential for savings — and big potential for fun. Whether you're planning a spooky event, going all-out on a costume, buying treats for the whole neighborhood — or all of the above, with a little creativity and savvy planning, you might be surprised how budget-friendly Halloween can be.
1. Manage Halloween party food on a budget
Hosting a Halloween get-together doesn’t need to be costly. Here are a few ways to afford festive party food without sacrificing your budget:
- Go potluck-style. Invite friends or family to bring a dish to share. This can keep costs low and ensure some variety. You can even encourage a spooky theme to keep things fun.
- Choose budget-friendly snacks. Think popcorn witch hands, mummy hot dogs, or tortilla pumpkins. Many Halloween recipes require inexpensive staples you might already have.
- Shop early and in bulk. Buying candy or non-perishable items ahead of time helps avoid last-minute markups, and lets you spread your budget over time.
- Make festive drinks. A simple punch bowl with floating peeled grapes (eyeballs) or gummy worms can double as both a beverage and a decoration — without adding much to the cost.
PULLOUT BOX:
Budget-friendly Halloween recipe idea:
- What: All you need are bananas, chocolate chips, and a little peanut butter (or icing)
- How: Cut bananas in half, stand them upright, and press chocolate chips in for eyes and a mouth (use peanut butter or icing as the “glue”).
- Why: A cheap, quick, and healthy sweet treat that the kids will love
For more easy recipes, check out Food Network’s Halloween treats.
2. Go for cheaper Halloween decorations
Decorations set the scene, but they don’t need to cost a lot. Here are a few practical ideas to inspire you:
- DIY with household items. Old sheets can become ghost backdrops and mason jars with candles can make eerie lanterns (you could even paint spooky figures on the outside).
- Thrift-store finds. Vintage clothing or even props can be repurposed into scary décor.
- Dollar-store supplies. Balloons, construction paper, and LED lights can be cheap and cheerful essentials.
- Reuse year after year. Store any reusable decorations safely to avoid rebuying them next year.
- Bring nature inside. Pumpkins, sticks, and autumn leaves can be gathered from the outdoors for free and instantly set a seasonal mood.
3. Come up with Halloween costumes that won't break the bank
Costumes are often the biggest Halloween splurge, but you can keep the cost down by:
- Repurposing old costumes. Sometimes adding new accessories or repainting props can make all the difference to a previous year’s outfit.
- Costume swaps. Trade your old costumes with friends, neighbors, or community groups.
- Get creative. Some DIY strategies and your imagination could be just enough to turn household items into a brand new costume. Try this article If you don’t know where to start.
- Shop off-season or secondhand. Thrift stores and post-Halloween clearance racks often have discounted options that can be used this year or stored for the next.
4. Choose affordable or free Halloween events
Celebrating Halloween doesn’t have to mean shelling out tickets for overcrowded haunted houses or ghost rides. Instead, you can explore:
- Community parades or trunk-or-treats. Your town might be hosting free events. Take a look at your community calendar.
- Library activities. Craft nights or story hours can be low-cost fun for kids.
- Neighborhood events. Local churches or schools often offer safe, free festivities for families.
- At-home scares. Host a horror-movie marathon or scavenger hunt at home — fun, cozy, and low-cost.
Check out city websites or Facebook community boards to find out if there are free Halloween events happening near you.
5. Budget ahead for Halloween by using savings tools
Despite all the great ideas, Halloween could still tap your wallet. Another way to avoid holiday debt is to prepare early. Here are a few ways:
- Buy in bulk. Snacks and candy will be cheaper when purchased wholesale.
- Start early. Spread your budget out over weeks or even months by starting your shopping sooner.
- Try earned wage access (EWA). Got your eye on some good deals but it's not yet payday? Try the EarnIn app's Cash Out1 feature, which uses EWA to tap your earned wages before your scheduled payday. Get up to $150/day, with a max of $750 between paydays. It's not a loan, so there's no interest, no credit checks, and no mandatory fees — just a savvy way to manage your pay.
- Use savings tools. With EarnIn’s Tip Yourself2 tool, you can automatically set aside a portion of your paycheck into a no-cost, FDIC-insured account. Then you can watch as your account grows without the stress of manual budgeting or coin-counting.
How EarnIn can help you plan a stress-free Halloween
Halloween overspending can creep up fast — but EarnIn can help keep your eyes on your budget. If your account balance dips after a seasonal splurge, EarnIn's Balance Shield3 tool can alert you and help protect against overdrafts.
And if you find that you need to bridge the gap until your next payday, Cash Out1 can help by giving you access to your earned wages ahead or your scheduled paycheck — without getting into the trap of high-interest payday loans. Paired with Tip Yourself2, these tools can help you celebrate the holidays stress-free while keeping your budget intact.
Make this Halloween scary-good
Halloween should be about happy memories, not money stress. By getting creative with DIY costumes, searching for more affordable events, and dishing out budget-friendly food, you can celebrate without the debt.
Making use of tools like EarnIn’s Cash Out1, Tip Yourself2, and Balance Shield3 can help to avoid financial scares after the fun ends. A little forward thinking — and practical planning — can go a long way toward making this Halloween unforgettable, for all the right reasons.
FAQs
What are some budget-friendly Halloween meals?
Classic potluck dishes, popcorn witch hands, or themed finger foods — like mummy hot dogs — are all solid options that can keep costs low.
What is the cheapest food to make for a party?
Ready-to-eat snacks, banana ghosts, and popular party foods like chips with dip are affordable crowd-pleasers.
How can you decorate for Halloween on a budget?
Black and orange construction paper is your friend, as well as whatever you can find at thrift stores or dollar stores. You can also search online for DIY inspiration using household items. And remember to reuse any decorations you might have saved from last year.
Please note, the material collected in this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as or construed as advice regarding any specific circumstances. Nor is it an endorsement of any organization or services.
This Blog was sponsored by EarnIn. While the author received compensation, the information shared is grounded in independent research and intended to provide helpful and accurate guidance to readers.
EarnIn is a financial technology company not a bank. Banking Services are provided by Evolve Bank & Trust or Lead Bank, both Member FDIC. The FDIC provides deposit insurance to protect your money in the event of a bank failure. More details about deposit insurance here.
1
A pay period is the time between your paychecks, such as weekly, biweekly, or monthly. EarnIn determines your daily and pay period limits (“Daily Max” and “Pay Period Max”) based on your income and financial risk factors as outlined in the Cash Out Maxes section of our Cash Out User Agreement. EarnIn reserves the right to adjust the Daily Max and Pay Period Max at its discretion. Your actual Daily Max will be displayed in your EarnIn account before each Cash Out.EarnIn does not charge interest on Cash Outs or mandatory fees for standard transfers, which usually take 1–2 business days. For faster transfers, you can choose the Lightning Speed option and pay a fee to receive funds within 30 minutes. Lightning Speed may not be available at all times and/or to all customers. Restrictions and terms apply; see the Lightning Speed Fee Table and Cash Out User Agreement for details and eligibility requirements. Tips are optional and do not affect the quality or availability of services.
2
Tip Yourself Account funds and Tip Jars are held with Evolve Bank & Trust, member FDIC and FDIC insured up to $250,000. Tip Yourself is a 0% Annual Percentage Yield and $0 monthly fee service deposit account. For more information/details, visit Evolve Bank & Trust Customer Account Terms.3
Balance Shield provides free alerts when your bank account balance drops below the threshold you set in your EarnIn account. You can also enable automatic transfers ($100/day - subject to your available earnings - with a limit of $750/pay period), if your bank account balance falls below your set threshold. If your available earnings are insufficient to transfer the $100, the transfer will not be completed. You choose the speed of these automatic transfers. Standard speed is available at no cost and the transfer typically takes 1-2 business days. Lightning Speed is available for a fee [see Lightning Speed Fee Table] and the transfer typically takes less than 30 minutes. You will also have the option to set a tip for automatic transfers. Tips are optional and can be $0; however, if you choose to set a tip, it will be applied to each Balance Shield transfer. Whether you tip, how much, and how often you tip does not impact the quality and availability of services. You can cancel the alerts and/or transfers at any time in your EarnIn account settings. See the Cash Out User Agreement for more details. While Balance Shield can help you avoid overdrafts, it does not guarantee protection from third-party fees, and its effectiveness depends on your usage and bank activity.
