Are you ready for Halloween, yet? Before you put on your costume, before you set out the candy, before you get your spooky on, be sure to check out all of these tips to save the most money while having a great time this October 31st.
Create a Costume
Let’s face it, you don’t have to get to the store. You probably don’t have time to fire up your sewing machine. But that doesn’t mean you can’t look fabulous and bonus points you won’t have to spend as much money. From a cowboy to a tourist, from emojis to your Instagram profile, there are plenty of great costumes all around your home. Check out these ideas:
- Six Last Minute FREE Halloween Costumes
- FREE & Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas
- 25 Easy Last-Minute Halloween Costumes
- 51 Cheap and Easy Last Minute Halloween Costumes
- 31 Insanely Clever Last-Minute Halloween Costumes
Feed the Kids for FREE (or cheap)
When Halloween falls on a week night, it feels impossible to get everyone fed and find time to hit the pavement for trick-or-treating. A number of restaurants are offering FREE kids entrees with the purchase of an adult sized meal. Check with your favorite restaurants, but locally I found offerings with the following of dining destinations:
- McAlister’s Deli: Kids eat FREE in costume the week of Halloween. 2 meals per 1 adult entree.
- Chipotle: From 3pm to close, anyone in costume can get a burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos for only $3.
- Chuck E. Cheese: 50 FREE tickets for kids in costume
- Fazoli’s: FREE kids meal with purchase of adult entree on October 31st for kids in costume.
- Bob Evans: Coupon good for 30% Dine in or Carry Out
- IHOP: FREE Scary Face Pancake for kids 12 and under 7 AM to 10 PM on October 31st.
- Baskin Robbins: $1.31 Scoops of Ice Cream
- Noodles & Company: Coupon good for FREE kids’ entree with purchase of adult meal 10/28 – 10/31.
- Papa Murphy’s: $8 Jack-O-Lantern Pizza
Hit the Clearance
On November 1st, all of the items you need for next Halloween will be on sale for a fraction of the price. In fact, some of those price reductions have already kicked in as retailers begin stocking up on Christmas decor. What should you look for? Solid color orange items that can be used throughout the fall season, carveable fake pumpkins, costumes that can stock your kids’ dress up trunk, and candy of course! Yesterday, I picked up a “funkin” for less than a third of its original price and plan on having our family write down what we’re grateful for throughout the month of November on it with a sharpie.
Print Your Pumpkin Stencil
Still haven’t carved your jack-o-lantern? No worries! There are free pumpkin stencils galore available for you! You might even be able to find printable transfer pages at a craft store that stick straight on your pumpkin, making it easier to carve.
- Over 100 FREE Disney Pumpkin Stencils
- Sports Team and Video Game Pumpkin Carving Stencils
- Movie and Celebrity FREE Pumpkin Carving Patterns
- 100s of Free Pumpkin Carving Patterns
Pumpkin Carving Hacks
Looking for ways to make the process of carving easier? Check out these ideas:
- Use a dry erase marker to design your own funky face. You can wipe away the marks easily when you’re done.
- Spray the inside of your creating with a mixture of bleach and water to prevent quick rotting.
- Use a drill or cookie cutters and a mallet instead of the tedious process of knives to carve.
- Cut a larger square shape on the backside of your pumpkin to empty out the guts and avoid getting slimy hands.
Halloween doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to have plenty of fun!
Don’t miss these other great posts on Halloween:
- 5 Ways to Save Money on Halloween Candy
- 5 Ways You Can Save More Money This Halloween
- 3 Halloween Candy Buy Back Programs
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional on Kindle.
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
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