Halloween can be a pretty expensive affair. With all the costumes and candy, Halloween comes at a lot of different price points. As a grad or undergrad student, it involves late nights, bar hops and dressing up in the spooky costumes.
However, as a grad or an undergrad student or even just someone who would like to save money, there are pretty of frugal ways to spend Halloween while having loads of fun.
This article walks you through 12 such ways in which you can have fun while being light on the bank.
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Before we move on to the frugal ways in which you can spend Halloween, let’s understand what Halloween is all about.
1.
Go to a history museum
Believe it or not, but most history museums in a city have halloween celebrations. Many times they include:
- Games
- Museum tours
- Costume contests
2.
Have a pumpkin carving party
If you’ve been to the pumpkin farm as mentioned in the fall bucket list post, you likely have quite a few pumpkins at your disposal. If not, pumpkins can be found for quite cheap at any local grocery store.
Having a pumpkin carving party is a frugal way to have a get together and set the halloween mood right. All you need is a carving knife and great imagination and you’ve got yourself a fun filled halloween evening.
If you’re not into carving, you can also go for a Halloween paint by numbers kit. This is the one I love!
3.
Have a Halloween Potluck
Another way to keep low on the budget this halloween would be to have a potluck. A potluck involves your invitees getting home food and beverages which can bring down the cost.
Have some great halloween themed meals prepped like fruit punch for vampire blood, caramel apples or charcuterie board designed like a skeleton!
4.
Keep a themed party at home
Keep a costume party at home. It’s frugal and fun and you can get a whole lot of creative.
You can also have a theme to the theme. For instance, a Bollywood or Hollywood party where you come dressed like film stars. Or a gothic party. Or a plain and simple costume party.
If you have no budget for a halloween costume, grab something out of your closet or exchange one with a friend and spend next to nothing! But if you do have a small budget, I personally love these butterfly wings! They are unique and cute 🙂
5.
Halloween Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunt is a great frugal ways to spend your Halloween, especially when there is candy at every corner. A fun idea is to base it on your favourite movie and keep clues along the way.
At the end of the scavenger hunt you can have a pot of candy at the end. It’s cheap and fun.
6.
Have a halloween themed painting party
Painting is always a fun activity and is even more fun with friends around. If you are not too much for carving, grab your pumpkins and have a halloween themed painting party.
You don’t even need pumpkins for this. Plain Paper and a few art brushes will suffice along with some cheap paint. You can also grab some canvas and some wine, and have a sip and paint party.
7.
Halloween Game Night
- Murder mystery
- Tic tac toe
- Beer pong with a twist (make the ping pong eyeballs)
- Witch hat toss
8.
Halloween Movie Night
Can you think of a more frugal way to celebrate halloween than a spooky movie night. If you want, you can also turn it into a date night.
Grab a bowl of pop-corn and turn up the TV to watch a halloween movie. It also doesn’t have to be spooky. You have Hocus Pocus, Coraline, Adam’s family all a part of the non-spooky set.
9.
Shake some cocktails or mocktails at home
Now, these don’t even need to be alcoholic if you don’t want them too, just spooky looking. Just grab a few cool looking items from Amazon and have a very spooky looking drinks table. I find these Halloween Blood Bags for Drinks to be quite interesting.
I love a Bloody Mary on halloween. But if you’re not the faux blood drinking I love this list by countryliving.com.
10.
Go on a spook adventure around town
Many cities have different neighbourhoods that have put up amazing decorations in their front yard. Drive around with your friends to take a roll down spooky town.
Maybe you will get inspirations for your next house!
11.
Find free activities around town
Most big cities around have free events that have been organized during Halloween. Be on the lookout for such events. Some halloween activities that you can find around town are:
- Graveyard tour
- Haunted house tours
- Bonfires
A great place to scout for it is on Facebook events. It usually also has a RSVP section so you don’t miss out!
12.
Meet the trick or treaters
Make sure to keep some candy at bay in case you have some trick or treaters come knocking at your doorstep!
You can get some cheap candy from Costco or Amazon!
Halloween need not be a time when you spend too much money. You can be frugal and have fun at the same time this Halloween by following these simple tips from this list.
Halloween is also a great transition time to the colder days of fall. If you are looking to become more productive while being cocooned in this fall (and having fun). I suggest you take a look at 51 Productive And Fun Fall Activities You Need To Do. It also has a bucket list included 🙂
Have a lovely day!