Autumn is hands down my favourite time of year as a parent and Halloween definitely plays a part in that. The nights are drawing in; cosy family film nights at home beckon; and all the leaves are turning beautifully orange and crunchy! Wellies and jumpers come out of the cupboards. Steamy hot chocolate in mugs and out come my comfort food recipes!
Halloween has undoubtedly become way more commercial over the last 10 years though. The supermarkets seem to be full of costumes and decorations by the end of the summer holidays. But, it really doesn’t have to be expensive and, with some pre-planning, can be even more fun and special!
Here are our 6 “frightfully” good tips for a spooktacular Halloween without breaking the bank.
- DIY Costumes that Haunt Memories, Not Your Wallet: Instead of buying expensive and unsustainable costumes, why not get creative and make your own? Raid your closet, visit charity shops, and let your imagination run wild. You can repurpose old clothes, add some spooky accessories, and create unique costumes that are both eco-friendly and budget-friendly. Plus, making costumes together can be a fun activity for the whole family!
- Get creative with your treats for ‘Trick or Treaters’: look out for BOGOF offers and special deals. Last year some people we met had bought giant bags of pick & mix sweets and pre-portioned them into little paper bags. You can get little paper bags for under £3 for 100. You’ll be saving on plastic waste from individually wrapped sweets too.
- Decorate with Nature's Haunting Beauty: Skip the plastic decorations this Halloween and embrace the beauty of nature. Collect fallen leaves, pinecones, and branches to create a rustic and eerie ambience. Use them to make wreaths, table decorations, or even spooky autumn leaf garlands. You can also carve pumpkins and use them as lanterns or paint them with eco-friendly paints for a unique touch. Nature's offerings are not only sustainable but also add a touch of enchantment to your Halloween decor.
- Make your own crafty Halloween decorations: last year we made little bats and spiders from old egg boxes to hang up! You could cut up black, white, orange, and green paper/card to make paper garland chains to hang up - the kids always enjoy sticking these together too!
- Scary Games and Activities for a Ghoulish Gathering: Instead of spending money on entertainment, plan some spooky games and activities for your Halloween party. Bobbing for apples, a mummy wrap race, or a scavenger hunt can keep everyone entertained and engaged. You can also set up a DIY photo booth with Halloween-themed props for some wickedly fun memories. These activities will not only save you money but also create lasting memories for your family and friends.
- Spooky supper: I’ve fallen into many a Pinterest blackhole looking for halloween party food ideas! Some simple budget friendly ideas are:
- Make mozzarella ghost shapes on a pizza base for a spooky cheese and tomato pizza (try black olives for the eyes and mouth)
- Green ‘slime’ jelly with jelly snakes or sweetie eyeballs inside!
- Wrap sausages ‘mummies’ in thin strips of shop-bought pastry and bake in the oven
Have fun this Halloween and remember not to knock at anyone’s door who doesn’t have decorations up!