Thrifty Halloween Decoration Ideas to Save Money

Uh-oh! Halloween is October 31, which means you have just a few more days to get ready. Have you decorated your home, office space, or classroom to look spooky and festive yet? Whether you’re greeting excited little trick-or-treaters, having a party, or just getting into the spirit, it’s always fun to bust out the Halloween decorations and go to town. This year, I can help you make your front steps, living area, or workspace look awesome with great last-minute Halloween decoration ideas. It’s time to get creative—and to save money too! And while we’re getting excited about all things Halloween, I’ll share some fun ideas I’ve found for party games and yummy snacks. There are no tricks here, just treats!

• Halloween Decoration Ideas: Don’t Break the Bank!
  • Colorful Ghost String Lights
  • Spooky Vintage Cutouts
  • Posable Halloween Skeleton
  • Halloween Train Yard Decoration
  • Paper Lanterns
• Thrifty and Fun Halloween Party Ideas
• Healthy Halloween Snacks

Halloween Decoration Ideas: Don’t Break the Bank!

Let’s face it: the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t exactly been kind to most of our bank accounts. If you were out of work for any time in the last year and a half, you’re probably thinking about how to save money all the time. And, hey, good for you! It’s never a bad idea to carefully monitor That said, when the holidays come around, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy yourself, even if you’re on a tight budget.

Check out these five ideas for Halloween decorations that won’t put you in the red (unless you’re into that fake blood, of course!)your spending and commit to putting more of your paycheck away, pandemic or not. Bringing a homemade lunch to work instead of eating out, waiting until that cute dress you’ve been eyeing goes on sale—those small choices make a big difference over time. (And if you haven’t been watching your spending, it’s never too late to begin! Get started now with these smart money-saving apps.)

Colorful Ghost String Lights

Brighten up any room (or even the most cramped office cubicle) with these adorable Color-Changing Ghost String Lights, available on Amazon. They’re battery-powered, so you can hang them pretty much anywhere—your mantle, your desk, or the back of your office chair. At $9.99 per strand, they’re a spook-tacular steal!

Spooky Vintage Cutouts

If you’re feeling retro, check out this seven-piece set of Classic Vintage Halloween Cutouts, also available from Amazon. At $10.83 per package, they’re an easy and affordable way to make a party table or desk look fun and festive. They’re double-sided, so they’ll look good if you hang them from your ceiling or display them in your windows.

Posable Halloween Skeleton

Is your Halloween aesthetic more creepy than cute? If that’s the case, don’t miss this Hanging Plastic Posable Skeleton Decoration with LED Eyes from Home Depot, $29.98. It runs on batteries for indoor or outdoor use and is perfect for your front yard or walkway. You can pose him however you’d like, so don’t be afraid to use your imagination! You might consider dressing him up, too.

Halloween Train Yard Decoration

You might admire yards full of silly seasonal inflatables and think “Well, they’re cute, but they’re ridiculously expensive.” If you’re dying for a cute and funny Halloween blow-up of your very own, check out this Halloween Inflatable Pumpkin Train, available for $83.99 on Amazon. While it’s not as cheap as some of my other decoration ideas, it’s an excellent deal for a yard inflatable. And since it’s cute rather than scary, it should delight even the littlest trick-or-treaters (and you too, of course!).

Paper Lanterns

If you’re hosting an outdoor Halloween party (or if you just want to decorate for those cute trick-or-treaters), these battery-operated Paper Pumpkin Lanterns from Target are a great option. You get a set of six for $10, a deal that’s hard to beat. If you’re careful with them and store them safely, you should be able to use them for years to come.

Thrifty and Fun Halloween Party Ideas

Celebrating Halloween in 2020 was a little tricky for most families. Many schools were still closed or on hybrid schedules, and safe, socially-distanced trick-or-treating required creativity and planning. This year, most of us are feeling a little less anxious about the logistics of Halloween traditions and are ready for a good time. If you’re hosting a party at home or in your classroom, check out these budget-friendly ideas for fun and games.

• Jack-o-Lantern Knock-Down Game, Party City, $6

• Halloween Bucket Ball Toss Game, Target, $10

• Halloween Bingo Game Kit, Target, $5

• Halloween Ring Toss Game, Target, $10
  
• Pumpkin-Carving Kit, Target, $4

Need more inspiration? If you’re a teacher or daycare provider, or if you have little kids at home, don’t miss Good Housekeeping’s 48 Halloween Games for Kids. What kid doesn’t love a good candy hunt or game of candy corn bingo?

Healthy Halloween Snacks

Maybe you’re hosting guests at your home or supplying goodies for an office Halloween celebration. While Halloween classics like M&Ms, Milky Ways, and Kit Kats are always crowd-pleasers, you might consider preparing and serving some healthy Halloween snacks alongside the usual favorites. Here are a few of my favorite ideas for healthier treats that aren’t a drag. They’re all kid-friendly, but adults with a sense of humor should enjoy them too.

• These green apple monsters made with peanut butter and seeds are ridiculously cute.

• Healthy and gluten-free mini Halloween mummy pizzas are easy to prepare.

• You can make these adorable Halloween banana popsicles with Greek yogurt look like ghosts or mummies.

• Your kids can make these easy spider crackers with nut butter or cream cheese.

• These tangerine pumpkins and banana ghosts are simple and allergy-friendly.

What are your favorite Halloween traditions? What are you planning to do with your family and friends this year? Leave a comment below to share with other readers. And don’t forget to check back here later to see what kinds of ideas other commenters have left. I’m always amazed at how creative and fun people can be.

Have a safe, healthy, and happy Halloween! With these budget-friendly ideas, next month’s bank statement is the one thing that shouldn’t give you a fright.