The $100 Halloween Party: 5 Tricks To Keep Costs Down
Written by
Cynthia Measom
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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Hosting a Halloween party can easily exceed a $100 budget unless you get creative.
One way to do so is to spend the bulk of your funds on refreshments and figure out free (or very cheap) ways to cover the rest of the essentials.
Also see three common Halloween buys that break your budget.
Keep Refreshments Simple
Although it may be tempting to make fancy Halloween refreshments, it’s best to keep it simple if you want to cut costs.
Instead, opt for quick, easy and cost-effective recipes, like these puff pastry appetizers from All Recipes. Chips, dips and finger sandwiches can also be budget-friendly and feed a crowd.
Add ‘BYOB’ to the Invitation
Buying beverages, including alcohol, for all of your party guests can really add up. Avoid the cost by including “BYOB” in the party invitation.
Then, for the party, make a big bowl of Halloween punch. Guests who don’t bring drinks can enjoy the punch, and those who bring alcohol but no mixers can use it to spike their serving.
Some punch options include a blood orange vampire punch and a cinnamon pumpkin punch from Food Network.
Recycle or DIY Decorations
Instead of spending money on new Halloween decor, look through what you already have and use it. If you need some extra stuff, see if friends and family have anything you can borrow.
If you can’t borrow, consider some cheap and easy ways to make your own Halloween decor. For example, Parade Home and Garden suggested trash bag spider webs and paper chain ghosts.
Recycle Your Costume
Purchasing a new Halloween costume — or even buying the supplies to DIY one — is an expense that can wreck a $100 Halloween party budget.
The easiest way to avoid it is to wear a Halloween costume from a past year. If that’s not an option, see if a friend or family member has an old costume they can spare.
Host With One or Two Other People
If trying to host a party for $100 on your own is impossible, consider hosting with another person or two so you can divide up the costs equally. If everyone chips in $100, you’ll double or triple the amount of funds you can put toward the festivities.
Just make sure the guest list doesn’t expand too much, or the savings will disappear.
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