Halloween is one of the biggest holidays of the year, but it’s also one of the most expensive. Americans are expected to spend an all-time high of $8.4 billion on Halloween 2016, according to the National Retail Federation. And a majority — 69.1 percent — of people plan to partake in Halloween events this year.
If you’re one of those peple, you’ll be relieved to know you don’t have to spend your entire paycheck to host a great Halloween party or spend a night out on the town. Use these 31 Halloween ideas to enjoy the darkest, most mysterious, hair-raising holiday of the year.
1. Shop at the Last Minute
Shopping for Halloween costumes and decor early in the month ensures the best selection, but waiting until closer to the holiday brings the biggest discounts.
"If you haven't bought your costume yet, you can save some money by waiting until the week before Halloween, when stores will start discounting these highly seasonal items," said Benjamin Glaser, features editor at DealNews. "Last year, Amazon offered free one-day shipping on discounted costumes on Oct. 29."
2. Watch Scary Movies at Home
“Streaming scary movies is a great and affordable way to celebrate Halloween — assuming you already have a service like Netflix or Amazon Instant,” said Glaser.
Some of the horror titles currently available on Netflix include "V/H/S," "Children of the Corn" and "The Taking of Deborah Logan." Amazon Instant also has a slew of horror films, including classics like "Halloween" and “Interview With the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles."
3. Use Printables for Halloween Decorations
A printer is all you need to make your home seriously creepy.
"Many home decor shops sell chic Halloween banners, bottles, books and cut-outs for $10 to $35, yet these items can easily be recreated for free when you print templates," said Kendal Perez, a savings expert at CouponSherpa.com. "A banner is simply paper flags connected with string or ribbon, so find your favorite phrase — Boo! Happy Halloween! Beware! — and print the template for a fun banner to add to your entrance or mantle."
4. Focus on Face Paint
When it comes to making your own costume, don't get caught up in buying premade pieces. Instead, focus on the small details that can pull an outfit together.
"While I love Halloween, I don't typically buy full-fledged costumes — instead, I focus on my face, hair and a few accessories, and then pull items from my own closet," said Perez. “This is pretty easy to do, especially if you narrow your costume search to those where the face is really the focal point."
5. Buy Secondhand Halloween Costumes
You don't need to buy a brand-new Halloween costume when you can get a gently used one for a fraction of the cost.
“Whether it's your local consignment store or an online consignment shop like ThredUp.com, these outlets are great resources for inexpensive costumes, especially for kids,” said Perez. “For example, a Belle 3-6 months Disney Store costume is currently available from ThredUp for $6.99, compared to its retail price of $21."
6. Focus on Festive Accessories
Accessories like wigs and masks need little else to create stellar Halloween costumes.
“I'm a big fan of wigs since they also help transform your look into something that pops,” said Perez. “They can be expensive, however, so it's important to shop around. I purchased a long red wig from Amazon a couple years ago and paid about $12, compared to $25 for a comparable wig from Target or Party City.”
7. Have a Halloween Pet Parade
If you’re an animal lover, you’ll agree there are few things cuter than pets dressed up in costume. Gather all your pet-obsessed friends and neighbors for a fun pet Halloween costume parade around your neighborhood. Require everyone to get creative and make their pet’s outfit, instead of buying one from the store.
Related: 10 Outrageously Expensive Halloween Costumes for Pets
8. Buy Halloween Candy in Bulk
Halloween isn’t complete without candy, but heading to the store and stocking up on bags of treats can get costly very quickly.
“One of the easiest ways to save money and time when planning for trick-or-treaters or a themed Halloween party is to buy candy in bulk online instead of going to the store,” said Clair Jones, head of community outreach at CandyStore.com. “Not only is there a better selection or brand-name and bulk candy, but you can have it delivered to your door for a fraction of the cost. You could spend $15 and have enough candy for trick-or-treaters this Hallows' Eve."
9. Host a Halloween Slumber Party
Throwing an elaborate Halloween party can be extraordinarily expensive, so gather a few budget-minded friends for a low-key sleepover.
“This year my friends and I are throwing a Halloween slumber party, that won’t break the bank,” said Emily Mort, a graphic designer and full-time student. “Instead of going out and buying expensive costumes we are only going to wear once, we are going to each bring a Halloween-inspired food that we find on Pinterest and, of course, candy, and we are going to binge-watch horror movies on Netflix.”
10. Create a Halloween Playlist
Whether you’re throwing a party or greeting trick-or-treaters, having the right background music always makes the mood more festive. Create a Halloween playlist with songs like "Monster Mash," "Ghostbusters" and "Thriller." All three songs can be downloaded for less than $1.30 on iTunes.
11. Carve a Pumpkin
A Halloween staple, the average price of a pumpkin was $4.32, as of Oct. 16, 2015, according to the USDA. If you’re naturally artistic, you have your design covered. If not, download a free stencil online. Not only is this a fun activity, but the finished product also doubles as festive decor.
12. Dress in All Black
Extravagant costumes are nice, but you can save a lot of time and money by simply dressing in all black. Raid your own closet for a head-to-toe ensemble fitting for the holiday of darkness. In the two minutes it takes to choose your clothes, you’ll perfectly blend in everyone else without spending a cent.
13. Give Yourself a Halloween Mani-Pedi
Sometimes, it’s the little details that add the most value, so create a fun Halloween look by giving yourself a black and orange mani-pedi. A bottle of orange Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color costs just $3.96 at Walmart, and you can get the brand’s Black to Black shade for the same price. Pair this with an affordable costume or rock it alone to show your Halloween spirit.
See: 24 Best Deals at Walmart
14. Read Halloween Books to Your Kids
Make bedtime extra fun for your little ones during Halloween season by swapping standard nighttime stories with a seasonal treat. There’s an endless supply of fantastic options, including “The Spooky Wheels on the Bus,” “One, Two…Boo!” and “The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin.” Even better — each of these books costs less than $5 on Amazon.
15. Toilet Paper Your Yard
Beat the neighborhood teens to the punch by toilet papering your own house prior to Halloween. Not only is it much less annoying when you do it yourself, it’s also fun and makes for fantastically cheap Halloween decor.
16. Concoct Witch’s Brew
The unofficial Halloween drink actually only requires a few inexpensive ingredients to make. Sandra Lee’s witch’s brew recipe calls for one 6-ounce package of lime gelatin, 3 cups chilled pineapple juice and a 2-liter bottle of ginger ale or a lemon-lime soft drink — with the option to add 2 cups chilled vodka.
17. Make Your Own Halloween Costumes
“DIY is one of the best ways to not only save money but create a unique costume,” said Stefan Sharpe, founder of The Millennial Budget. “Utilizing skills such as sewing allows you to create the costume you desire and make for a memorable Halloween.”
If you’re not sure where to start, he suggests consulting Pinterest, as the site is filled with countless ideas and easy-to-follow DIY guides.
Related: DIY Halloween Kids Costumes for Under $10
18. Do a Halloween Costume Swap
If making Halloween costumes isn’t your thing, join forces with a friend and swap last year's costumes.
“Consider any costume your friends may have used in the past that you liked and see if they still have it,” said Sharpe. “I remember one time in college two of my friends went as each other, and it was a very memorable night. This idea can be a simple everyday outfit swap or a past costume either of you may have purchased.”
19. Whip Out the Ouija Board
Host a spooky seance at your home with the help of a Ouija board. Whether you believe in the ability to communicate with spirits, you’re bound to have a fun evening with this classic game. If you don’t have one from childhood, buy a Ouija board on Amazon for less than $20.
20. Host a Ghostly Bonfire
Start a bonfire in your backyard and invite your friends over to roast marshmallows. Keep the night interesting by conducting research prior to the evening to find some seriously bone-chilling ghost stories to tell. Make sure to have a flashlight on hand for added effect.
21. Visit a Creepy Local Haunt
Embark on a seriously creepy adventure to a rumored haunted site in your local area. Of course, it’s best to go at night, but use your best judgment and don’t do anything that could get you or anyone in your group hurt. If you don’t already have a spot in mind, use HauntedPlaces.org to find a great spot.
22. Check Out Nearby Halloween Decor
Some people really deck their homes out for Halloween, which costs a fortune. Instead of doing that, admire the handiwork of the super festive people in your community by taking a drive around town to see all the amazing decorations. They’ll be excited to have revelers, and you’ll get to enjoy first-rate Halloween houses without spending a dime.
23. Take Your Friends’ Kids Trick-or-Treating
Many parents like to go all out and attend adults-only Halloween parties, but are unable to do so because they have young kids at home. If you don’t have children of your own, be the best friend ever — while enjoying Halloween like a kid — by volunteering to take on trick-or-treating duties. Dress up if you already have a costume at home, but if not, it’s very likely you’ll still get tons of free candy.
24. Throw a Halloween Potluck
Just because you’ve decided not to partake in traditional Halloween festivities, that doesn’t mean you have to spend the night home alone. Invite a few friends over for a Halloween potluck, which doesn’t have to involve any type of seasonal fare. Simply getting together with your crew is enough to make the holiday a success.
Read: 30 Ways You’re Wasting Your Paycheck on Halloween
25. Take Advantage of Halloween Discounts
Restaurants and bars often have specials on food and drink for Halloween, so head out for the night. Check in with your local favorites a few days prior to the holiday to find out what they have to offer. This is a great way for businesses to generate business on traditionally slow nights, when many people are out at Halloween parties or at home greeting trick-or-treaters.
26. Go Pumpkin Bowling
Create a pumpkin bowling alley, a festive and affordable game your guests will be raving about all year. HGTV suggests using a pumpkin as a bowling ball and painting 10 gourds to look like bowling pins. If you have kids, this is a great project to complete together as a family.
27. Make Your Own Halloween Decorations
Spookifying your home with store-bought decorations is convenient, but not the cheapest route.
"Whether a family afternoon or a creative outlet alone, making your own decorations has never been easier," said Ashley Bleckner, a financial advisor at RS Crum. "Resources like Pinterest have great ideas and step-by-step directions. Frequently, I'll browse to get inspired and am usually able to put my own spin on the decorations. For example, you could trace your child's outline on paper, cut it out and let them create their own spooktober creature."
28. Spookify Your Meals
Transform ordinary meals into a Halloween delight with a little creative thinking.
“Food coloring has been a huge help, but even beyond that — how you put the food on the plate, how you cut the cheese for a sandwich,” said Bleckner. “The smallest thing can add a little Halloween fun to your meals in October.”
29. Throw an Old-Fashioned Halloween Party
Wholesome Halloween fun doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. You can throw an old-school Halloween party for the neighborhood on a budget.
“Set up stations for the neighborhood kids to come over and bob for apples,” said family travel and activities expert Grainne Kelly, founder of BubbleBum, a portable booster seat. “Also, make a large batch of popcorn, dye the marshmallow mixture orange and black, and make homemade popcorn balls. Bring in some bales of hay, and place them around a fire pit for making s’mores. You can also have a blast telling scary stories by moonlight.”
30. Check Your Community Calendar for Free Events
Take advantage of any free Halloween activities offered in your local area, and enjoy getting to know your neighbors.
"Many communities will offer free admission to the pumpkin patch, a haunted house or a corn maze," said Kelly. "Gather all of your friends and celebrate Halloween early."
31. Host a DIY Costume Contest
Invite your friends over for a fun, cheap Halloween that puts everyone’s creativity to the test.
“Create rules that limit the amount of money you can spend on supplies for your costume,” said Kelly. “Drink hot spiced cider and answer the door for trick-or-treaters.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 31 Ways to Rock Halloween Without Spending a Fortune