5 easy ways to save this Halloween

Halloween is a time for spooky fun, creative costumes, and a little bit of candy indulgence. But between decorations, costumes, and treats, the costs can creep up faster than a zombie horde. Fear not, fellow goblins and ghouls! Here are five tricks to keep your Halloween spending from becoming a nightmare:

1. Get cash back on everything

Find frightfully-good deals on all the best candy, costumes, decor, and more! Ibotta has cash back deals at your favorite retailers, so check for offers first before you shop. We’ve got everything from top grocery retailers to craft stores to food delivery to online clothing retailers. 

2. Get creative with the candy

No we don’t mean you should become that house that gives out leftover sauce packets from restaurants. But maybe consider recycling the candy your kid gets this year. If your kid has three trunk-or-treat events in a row, you don’t want them to eat that much candy anyway. Offer to buy their hoard and use it at the next event or to hand out to trick-or-treaters. 

Or try non-candy treats like stickers, temporary tattoos, or small toys. They can be a hit with younger trick-or-treaters and are often less expensive than candy. Plus they give an option to kids with allergies.

3. Become an amateur costume designer

Store-bought costumes can be frightfully expensive, especially if you have multiple little monsters to outfit. Instead of draining your wallet, unleash your creativity with DIY costumes.

• Raid your closets: You'd be surprised what treasures (and costume potential) lurk in your own home. And if your kids have dress-up costumes they might rather wear one of those anyway. 

• Repurpose and recycle: Household items can be used in many creative ways. Try Pinterest for ideas of DIY costumes, or check out some cosplayers. They often have to get creative to get the costumes they want and have great tips. 

• Embrace the power of halloween makeup: A few strategically placed shadows and some face paint can transform you into anything from a zombie to a pop art character.

• Hit the thrift stores: Thrift stores are a goldmine for costume inspiration. You can often find unique pieces for a fraction of the cost of new items.

4. Decorate like a ghostly genius

Don't get tricked into overspending on decorations! Make DIY decor like paper bats, spooky silhouettes cut from cardboard, and hand-painted pumpkins. Or old sheets become ghostly apparitions, empty jars become spooky lanterns, and cardboard boxes transform into tombstones. You can also check dollar stores and discount retailers for a surprising selection of Halloween decorations at budget-friendly prices.

5. Seek out free (or cheap) thrills:

Halloween fun doesn't have to cost a fortune. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the spooky season without spending a lot of money:

• Community events: Many towns and cities offer free Halloween events like costume parades, haunted houses, and trick-or-treating at local businesses.

• Pumpkin patches and apple orchards: Enjoy a festive fall outing without spending a lot of money. Many pumpkin patches offer free hayrides, corn mazes, and other activities.

• Movie marathon: Host a spooky movie night at home with friends or family. Pop some popcorn, dim the lights, and get ready for some screams (and laughs).

• Throw a potluck: Ask each guest to bring a dish to share, potluck style. This not only saves you money but also allows everyone to contribute to the spooky feast.

By following these tips, you can have a spooktacular Halloween without haunting your bank account. Remember, the most important part of Halloween is to have fun and create lasting memories. So get creative, embrace the spooky spirit, and enjoy a happy and affordable Halloween.