Halloween is coming, so there’s lots of fun dressing up, eating sweet treats, and enjoying spooky fun! But let’s face it: The costs can add up quickly. From costumes to decorations, celebrating Halloween can drain your wallet before you know it.

This year, though, you don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy the spooky season with your family. Let’s look at ways to make Halloween special without breaking the bank. There are plenty of cheap Halloween activities that are perfect for little monsters and the whole family.

1. Free Halloween Printables 

Decorating your home for Halloween doesn’t have to be expensive, there’s loads of things you can find online to print! Just search for free Halloween templates on Google or Pinterest! There’s lots of pumpkin and phantom themed ones! 

You can make pictures, cards, bunting and more! 

2. Carve pumpkins

Carving pumpkins turns an ordinary October evening into a spell-binding adventure. It’s a great way to spark some creativity and get everyone into the Halloween spirit. Here’s how you can make this activity the highlight of your Halloween.

1. Head to your local budget supermarket and grab some pumpkins for about £1.50 each. This price is much cheaper then going to a pumpkin patch.
2. Pick up cheap pumpkin carving kits while you’re out shopping. These kits usually come with tools that are safer than kitchen knives and patterns to follow if you’re feeling ambitious.
3. Host a pumpkin carving competition within your family or friends group. Challenge each other to come up with unique designs that stand out.
4. Use templates if freehand designs seem too tricky. You can find loads of free designs online that range from spooky faces to intricate scenes fit for older children and adults.
5. Scoop out the insides of the pumpkin neatly and save the seeds for roasting later – they make a tasty snack!
6. Light them up! Place candles inside your carved pumpkins to see the designs glow in the dark arts fashion, adding a magical touch to your Halloween night decor.
7. Lastly, consider setting these glowing works of art along pathways or porches as part of your Halloween decorations, creating an enchanting atmosphere for any visitors or trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.

3. Paint-your-own crafts

Paint-your-own crafts bring families together for fun and creativity. They make use of simple items around the house, turning them into spooky Halloween decorations.

1. Gather your supplies, like watercolours, brushes, and any household item you can paint on. Common choices include old jars, paper plates, and stones.
2. Invite friends and family over for a crafting afternoon. It’s a great way to share laughs and create memories.
3. Use milk bottles to make ghouls by painting faces on them with white paint. Place a small light inside to make them glow.
4. Transform cereal boxes into gravestones by cutting them into a tombstone shape and painting “R.I.P” on them.
5. Paint spooky faces on stones to create mini monsters. You can place these around the garden or in plant pots.
6. Old jars can turn into ghost lanterns with some white paint and a black marker for the eyes and mouth.
7. Create your own pumpkin patches by painting orange pumpkins onto small rocks or pieces of wood.
8. For older kids, try more detailed projects like haunted houses from shoe boxes or creepy crawlies with pipe cleaners as legs.

These activities cater to various ages, ensuring everyone has something fun to do this Halloween season while staying on budget.

4. Host a spooky movie night

Hosting a spooky movie night sets the perfect scene for Halloween fun without breaking the bank. With classic horror flicks or family-friendly films, everyone can get into the spirit of the season. Here’s how to make it an unforgettable night:

1. Choose a mix of films that cater to all ages.
2. Set up a comfortable viewing area with plenty of cushions and blankets.
3. Make popcorn for everyone to enjoy while watching the movies.
4. Decorate your TV area with simple, homemade spooky decorations.
5. Play spooky tunes in the background before the film starts to set a chilling mood.
6. Have some Halloween-themed games ready to keep the fun going.
7. Encourage guests to come in their best costume to add to the atmosphere.
8. Prepare other easy snacks like witch fingers (pretzel sticks) and monster eyes (grapes or olives) for variety.

This plan ensures a night full of scares, laughs, and good times without spending much money at all. It’s ideal for gathering friends and family together, enjoying each other’s company, and making memories that will last well beyond Halloween night. Don’t forget your VPN for Netflix!

5. Create a paper mache piñata

Crafting a ghoulish piñata adds a burst of excitement to any Halloween celebration. This fun project lets you get creative and even recycle materials lying around the house. Here’s how you and your family can make one:

1. Gather all your materials. You’ll need old newspapers, glue, a balloon, and paint.
2. Blow up the balloon to whatever size fits your party best. This will form the body of your piñata.
3. Tear the newspaper into strips, ready for paper mache.
4. Mix the glue with water in a bowl to create your paper mache paste.
5. Dip the newspaper strips into the paste and start covering the balloon evenly.
6. Let it dry after each layer, adding at least three layers for strength.
7. Once fully dried, pop the balloon inside and remove it.
8. Paint it as Frankenstein or another spooky character .
9. Cut a small hole at the top to fill with sweets or small toys.
10. Make sure to cover this hole with tape that can easily break when hit.
11. Attach a rope or string so you can hang your piñata.

6. Halloween-themed games

Halloween-themed games are a brilliant way to keep everyone entertained. They add fun to any Halloween party. 

1. Halloween “I Spy” gets everyone searching for hidden spooky items around the room. You just need to print or draw pictures of various Halloween symbols and hide them in plain sight.
2. “Spooky Charades” turns acting into a ghoulish delight. With 16 printable charades cards, players can act out characters like witches or vampires without saying a word.
3. For “Witch’s Hat Ring Toss”, you can easily make witch hats from cardboard and have players toss rings over them. 
4. Crafting a creepy piñata fills the air with excitement. Whether it’s shaped like a ghost or a pumpkin, when it breaks open, candies fall out for everyone.
5. A Halloween scavenger hunt takes children on an adventure, looking for items or completing tasks related to Halloween.

These games ensure your Halloween is full of enjoyment without breaking the bank on expensive entertainments like fright nights at Paultons Park or Thorpe Park during the October half-term. 

7. Bake your own treats

Preparing your own Halloween goodies is cost-saving and an fun activity for the kids.

1. Begin with an easy-to-understand cupcake recipe. Everyone appreciates a tasty sponge cake, and there are many uncomplicated recipes available on the internet.
2. Incorporate Halloween-themed decorations like imitation spiders or edible eyeballs for a frightful touch. Cake toppers are available at affordable prices on Amazon.
3. Consider creating “Eerie Eyeball Jelly”, highly praised and taking merely 15 minutes to prepare. It’s ideal for surprising guests.
4. The “Spiced Pumpkin Halloween Cake” is well-liked, combining spiced pumpkin and orange buttercream. This cake introduces the flavour of autumn directly into your home.
5. Use icing colours such as black, orange, and green to create elements like pumpkins, witches, or ghosts on your baked items.
6. Cookie cutters are versatile; use Halloween shapes like bats or skulls to create themed cookies.
7. For a more nutritious alternative, fashion fruit monsters using strawberries and grapes – they’re both scary and pleasing!
8. Keep in mind that presentation is key! Display your baked treats on a platter decorated with imitation cobwebs or mini pumpkins.

8. Avoid branded sweets

When preparing for Halloween treats, consider cost-saving measures. Opting for non-branded or supermarket own brand sweets can be a cost-effective alternative to costly branded options.

By avoiding specifically themed Halloween sweets and selecting more affordable options from budget stores or supermarkets, you can effectively manage your Halloween spending while still providing tasty treats for trick-or-treaters and party guests.

9. Enjoy free events

You can maximise the Halloween season by using free community events and activities. Here are some ideas to relish in eerie fun without spending excessively:

1. Find local community events such as village hall gatherings, autumn firework displays, and scarecrow trails.
2. Explore pumpkin festivals in your area that offer complimentary admission, providing a delightful experience without incurring expenses.
3. Look for Halloween-themed events at local landmarks like haunted ghost tours or eerie storytelling sessions, and a spooky scavenger hunt often provided without charge during this time of year.
4. Remember to visit your local library for seasonal activities and spooky stories tailored towards young witches and wizards.
5. Contemplate attending complimentary Halloween-themed activities at nearby attractions such as a safari park or historical sites like Warwick Castle that host family-friendly thrills.
6. Engage in the excitement of free fancy dress contests and other party games organised by various venues as part of their Halloween spooktacular events.

10. Have a Halloween hunt

To organise a Halloween hunt, try this:

1. Download and print Halloween pumpkin treasure hunt clues from craft websites.
2. Prepare the outdoor area by hiding treats for children to find during the hunt. Use plastic pumpkins or themed baskets to hold the treats.
3. Visit a local pumpkin patch in the weeks leading up to Halloween to select and purchase pumpkins for decorating or carving during the hunt.
4. Plan a simple but exciting spider hunt for outdoor exploration, encouraging kids to find plastic spiders hidden throughout the designated area.

Happy Halloween!

As you can see, there’s plenty of things to do at Halloween that don’t cost a fortune. Whether you decide to chill out with a film like Hocus Pocus or Harry Potter, or decorated your house into a haunted house or carve pumpkins, there’s plenty to do! 

The most important thing is to enjoy the time with your family and make sure everyone has fun!