Don't let Halloween costs spook you! Here's eight great hacks for saving on costumes and decor.
- Ghastly ghosts
Create an army of floating ghosts using nothing but white trash bags. Gather a bunch of bags and stuff them with crumpled newspaper. Tie the "head" with a rubber band and use a permanent marker to draw spooky faces on your ghosts. Hang your frightful friends around your house and yard to scare your party guests and trick-or-treaters.
- Spooky bird houses
Create a mini haunted house to hang on your door or decorate your table using a basic birdhouse, white and black paint. Paint the birdhouse black and use white paint for a cobwebby effect. Finish it off with a few paper ghosts peeking out the windows and doors, and you've got yourself a tiny haunted house!
- Shark attack!
For a fun and freaky costume that costs nothing, go as a surfer being eaten by a shark. Dress in swimwear, with a towel slung over yourself if the weather makes it necessary, and apply fake blood to a visible spot on your neck or arm. Use face paint to create a shark bite and apply the blood so it surrounds the bite and drips out. For a fun touch, attach an inflated or stuffed toy shark to your costume.
- Mason jar lanterns
For easy DIY decor, paint Mason jars with spooky designs and insert battery-powered tea lights for a bewitching glow. Line your walkway or porch with these lanterns to welcome trick-or-treaters.
- Creepy crawlers everywhere
Use an inexpensive package of plastic spiders to scare your guests silly! Freeze some in ice cubes for a spooky surprise in everyone's drinks, scatter some across the table to make someone shriek, and even add some to your soap dispenser to really freak everyone out. Let your trick-or-treaters in on the fun by sprinkling some into your candy bowl.
- An eerie flicker
For a super-easy and super-cheap centerpiece, paint old wine bottles black. Use matte paint for the best effect. When your candlestick holders have dried, insert long orange taper candles into each bottle to add a festive look to your table.
- Care for a lollipop?
Turn your pumpkin into a fun lollipop dispenser with the help of an electric drill. Drill small holes in your pumpkin and then stick a lollipop into each hole. Set it up on your steps for an adorable, help-yourself trick-or-treat.
- Retro costume
For a costume that will make everyone laugh and won't cost a penny, go as your college-aged self. Dig out your old clothing and accessories, and if you had a crazy hairstyle back then, incorporate it into your costume, too.