Emma Finnerty
Everyone loves a good Halloween party. Admit it — no matter what age you are, you delight in getting dressed up and transforming into someone (or something) different for a night. Whether it’s a bash for your kids or a more sophisticated soirée, Halloween fun doesn’t have to have a hair-raising budget. Check out these scarily cheap Halloween party ideas to have a chillingly good time.
1. Freaky Fridge
Fend off fiendish party guests from helping themselves with this spooky fridge decal.
2. Dollar Store DIY
Check out your local discount and thrift stores for your Halloween essentials at low prices. I found dollar skeletons, fake spiderwebs, and eerie candles at my local store. And with a plethora of DIY tutorials on Pinterest, there’s nothing to stop you from spooking up your house on a budget.
3. Up the Walls
If you don’t want to spend hours cutting out pieces of black paper, try these cheap paper garlands that are sure to make your guests go batty.
4. Pumpkin Spice It Up
Put a Halloween spin on your treats with some cute pumpkin toppers. ’Cause who doesn’t love a li’l pumpkin this time of year?
5. Nobody’s Home . . .
Terrify your trick-or-treaters before they even get to the door with bloody window and door decals from Amazon.
6. Instant Wall Art
Left your party planning till frighteningly late? We got you! Download one or more of these cheap printable banners, stick them up, and voilà — Halloween party saved!
7. Come Into My Parlor
Get tangled up in the Halloween spirit and deck out your garden with a giant spider.
8. Off With Their Heads!
Nothin’ like a few skulls here and there to really boost the creepiness level of your party. Don’t be a bonehead — get this cheap set on Amazon.
9. Napkins
Keep the bloody mess to a minimum with some Halloween-themed napkins from Amazon.
10. Make It Rain
Do you really have a party if you don’t have tons and tons of confetti to clean up afterward?
11. Halloween Boo-loons
Make your party pop with a spooktacular set of Halloween balloons and banners from Amazon.
12. Stump Your Guests
Totally freak out your party guests when they take a bathroom break with some unnervingly realistic homemade finger soaps. 
13. A Bloody Mess
A set of cutely crawly coasters from Amazon will not only brighten up your party, but also stop a gruesome mess.
14. Props to the Host
There’s always that one guy who forgets to wear a costume. This photo-booth prop set on Amazon will save the day — and your Instagram pics, too.
15. Guest of Honor
Who doesn’t want to be greeted by a giant Grim Reaper hanging at your (or death’s) door? Amazon do great deals for these.
16. Witches’ Brews
Serve your party snacks in cute mini cauldrons, and your guests won’t know “witch” one to choose!
17. Fire It Up
Give your fireplace a creepy makeover with this spiderweb mesh from Amazon.
18. Smashing Pumpkin . . . Lights
Lighten the mood with atmospheric strings of LED pumpkin lights from Amazon.
19. Hanging Out
Add an autumn feel to your party with a stylish burlap Halloween garland.
20. Chic Pumpkins
Break away from the cliché black and orange. These affordable, hand-painted pumpkins will imbue your party with a stylish twist.
21. Realistic Ravens
Give your Hitchcock-crazed friends a fright with some lifelike raven props.
22. Wall Art
Walls looking pale as a ghost? Spruce them up with printable Halloween signs.
23. Pumpkin Decals
Avoid the mess of pumpkin insides and skip carving altogether by using one of these cute pumpkin decals.
24. Stripy Straws
Whether you’re sucking blood or soda, stay on theme with striped Halloween straws.
25. Pumpkin Patch-Scented Candle
Everyone loves a little pumpkin, so how about a pumpkin-spiced candle to fill the room with a festive Halloween scent?
26. Get Corny
Really get into the Halloween spirit with some corny party hats.
27. Tombstones
Bring your party to life (or not) with these convincing tombstones from Amazon.
How Much Do Americans Really Spend on Halloween?
Candy
We all have a sweet tooth, but even more so on the last day of October, apparently. Consumers are planning to drop a massive $2.6 billion on candy this Halloween. Can you hear those shouts of joy? That’s your local dentist.
Costumes
According to the National Retail Foundation’s annual Halloween spending survey, consumers plan to shell out an insane $3.2 billion on costumes this year. Whatever happened to the good, old-fashioned DIY bedsheet ghost costume?
Decorations
Even after incredible articles like this one providing some cheap alternatives for your Halloween party decor, Americans are predicted to spend $2.7 billion on decorations this year. Now that’s terrifying.
Overall
Halloween is gaining popularity and fast, with the nation spending approximately $9 billion this year on festivities. If that’s not enough to make your heart drop, then I don’t know what is.
