The last time you threw a Halloween party the scariest thing was your bank account statement the next day. As we all know, unless you’re Oprah or a trust fund baby, money matters. And it’s easy to want to go all out for a holiday this fun, but you really don’t have to blow your budget to throw a bombastic bash that all your ghouls and goblins will love. Wondering how to host your own Halloween party on a budget? Follow these tips!
Become a DIY Decorating Diva
Sure, Party City and other places have plenty of Halloween decorations and, if you’re in a time crunch, these are fine. But they’re not going to blow anyone away, and they’re not cheap to boot. Instead, hop on Pinterest and find some DIY options that are not only affordable, they’re relatively easy to create. You can always head to the Dollar Store for cheap and yet oh-so-spooky fodder for your fiesta as well. Get guests involved by having them guess how many eyeballs are in your mason jar. Cheap and fun—who would’ve thunk? When you think about how much ambiance a fake spiderweb with a hanging spider creates, you start to realize there’s no reason to break the bank for your Halloween party.
Serve Fabulously Frugal Food
Festive food for Halloween doesn’t have to mean catering from an expensive company. There are so many ways to do this on the cheap. The slow cooker is often the way to go. Not only is it perfect for this time of year, slow cooker recipes often only require a few ingredients to taste delicious! Of course, there are really fun bites that are interesting and inexpensive, like dead man’s finger sandwiches or mini mummy hot dogs. The dishes may look gross, but all your friends will be gathering around to partake. No matter what you do, have a plan for saving money when you set out to go shopping. Your budget will suffer if you’re shopping on the fly!
Costly Costume? No Thanks
If you’ve been shopping online for costumes, you know that they often don’t come cheap. In fact, many places tend to price gouge for this very specialized holiday, particularly if you’ve procrastinated. Last minute shipping charges are the worst! Make sure to plan your costume in advance. There are tons of DIY Halloween costume options, or you could hop on TipsyElves.com for some adult Halloween costumes that won’t break your bank. If you’re going to be outside for your party, these are fabulous, as they are super warm.
If you’ve found yourself in a last minute situation, there’s always the classic kitty, “cereal killer” (put cardboard cereal boxes all over yourself and wield a fake knife), or static cling (pin some socks to your outfit and you’re done!). Know a guy who is super anti-dressing up for Halloween? Have him write “Error 404: Costume Not Found” on a white tee or paste a nickel to his back (Nickelback). Clever, eh?If you’re shelling out hundreds of dollars for costumes that sit in your closet year after year, you might want to rethink that.
Buy in Bulk
While many people are hesitant to buy at places like Sam’s Club and/or Costco year round due to the fear they might not be able to finish food items before they go back, a Halloween party is the perfect time to do so. You’ll need all those paper plates, paper towels, and they also have fairly good prices on alcohol (although if you have a BevMo near you, that’s the way to go for drinks). Plus, Costco food items like pasta salad, turkey roll-ups, and mac ‘n’ cheese are great for a crowd.
Low on coin? Follow these tips for hosting your Halloween party on a budget. Your bottom line will be anything but frightening.
