Here’s a fun fact about Halloween that you might not have known: Believe it or not, it is reported to be the holiday that consumers spend the most to celebrate. Even beating Christmas!

If you are in the mood to join in on the festivities without busting your bank account, here are four budget-friendly tips to help you control your spending this spooky season.

Buy Candy in Bulk

Candy is the reason for the season! You will want to be sure that you have plenty on hand, especially if you are hosting a party or live in an area that gets a large number of trick-or-treaters.

Purchase candy in bulk. You can do so at stores like Costco, or online at Amazon. Huge bags of candy typically exhibit a lower price per unit – much better than buying numerous individual bags.

If you are unable to find candy in bulk, consider shopping for your Halloween treats and sweets at a discount store that offers lower prices on the products they sell. Even if they don’t have brand name candy bars, there are some treats you can’t go wrong with.

If handing candy out to trick-or-treaters, be sure that your bulk candy is individually wrapped for the safety and well-being of the kids.

DIY Decorations

You would be amazed at the number of affordable Halloween decorations you can make for under $5 using a bit of creativity. You can use coffee filters to make banners and garlands, or purchase bunch of mason jars and turn them into terrariums (just buy some cotton balls, plastic spiders, etc.)

You can also purchase a plain box cake, cover it with black frosting, and decorate it as a cute little spider. Just use stock paper to give it legs and throw on some candy eyes.

Other inexpensive decorations that don’t require you to be especially crafty include cobweb decorations, making ghosts out of old white bedsheets, and changing the colors of outdoor light bulbs to Halloween themed colors, such as purple or orange.

Thrift or Dollar Store Costumes

Believe it or not, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on Halloween costumes! Before dropping a lot of cash at your local pop-up Halloween shop, stop by your local thrift store, secondhand shop, or dollar store to see what they have to offer at a discounted price.

Since costumes, especially ones for kids, get outgrown in the year between Halloween, the chances are good that you can find a formidable outfit at a much lower price than suggested retail.

Another alternative would be to create your own costume using regular clothes sold at these shops. A few ideas: dress like a witch, a zombie, an 80’s rocker, or a greaser. There are plenty of clothes to choose from, so don’t be afraid to use your imagination!

Potluck Halloween Party

What’s a party without a lot of good food? If you are planning on hosting a Halloween party, consider a potluck. Potlucks are fun and help minimize the host’s overall expenses for the gala. When hosting a potluck, guests are asked to bring a covered dish that everyone can enjoy.

Another great benefit of having a potluck meal is that preparation and clean up is typically easier. As the host, here are a few suggestions for foods you can prepare for the get-together: Crockpot meatballs, Pinwheel appetizers, Mexican Dips, Chicken wings, Casseroles, Chili, Meat and cheese trays, and vegetable trays.

Hopefully, these four suggestions are helpful for celebrating Halloween without breaking the bank. After all, on a holiday all about creativity, money should not be a necessity.