With spooky season just around the corner, here are some affordable festive ideas to try as a family.
DIY Decorations
Why spend a fortune on decorations when you can create your own?
To make ghosts drape an old sheet over a balloon and draw a face on it. Tombstones can be replicated via cardboard shapes with personalised names and dates and cut out some black paper shapes and hang them upside down to make bats.
Costume Swap Parties
Trade costumes from previous years to save money and have a chance to get creative by mixing and matching. You could incorporate a photoshoot and prize for an unforgettable and inexpensive celebration.
Group Family Costumes
Working together to find group costumes can reduce the overall cost. Simple but recognisable group costumes like the Teletubies or the Incredibles would work as great family costumes.
Each family member can choose a basic block colour and a pipe cleaner headband to replicate their chosen Teletuby, or for the Incredibles a simple red and black outfit.
Treat Budgeting
Set a treat budget to avoid overspending. You can also opt for regular sweets, which are more affordable and just as delicious as seasonal ones. Trust us, the best part of Halloween for kids isn’t the chocolate wrapped in orange tinfoil- it’s the chocolate.
A Halloween Movie Marathon
There are a tonne of family-friendly films perfect for spooky season, and streaming services like Netflix are a great place to find them. Make the night even more memorable with snacks and a blanket fort, or dress up for the occasion.
Buy Treats and Decorations Post-Halloween:
After the 31st, most shops offer huge discounts on treats and decorations. Stock up for next year, or have a post-Halloween celebration.
Halloween has become the stuff of financial nightmares in recent years, and with the ongoing cost of living crisis, the idea of going above and beyond with costumes, decorations and food can be overwhelming, but by embracing creative strategies, you can enjoy the spooky season without the chilling costs.
