Halloween can get scary expensive. Here are 10 ideas to keep it low budget đ
Dressing up, decorations, themed drinks and spooky snacks â when the costs of Halloween rack up, itâs a fright-night for your bank account. But you donât have to spend a fortune to host a banging Halloween-themed party.
With the end of spooky season approaching, weâve put together some of the best Halloween activities for students on a budget. Check it out đ
Pick a theme, any theme đ
Every hauntingly good Halloween party needs a theme â whether itâs Zombie Apocalypse, Witches Coven or Day of the Dead. Even the classic colour scheme of black and orange can help to bring everything together. Take a trip down to your local pound store and stock up on supplies that meet the remit.
Letâs say youâre opting for a murder mystery party: all you need is some police tape, some blood-stain stickers, black paper and white chalk for a body outline on the floor and youâre good to go. Plus, by sticking to a theme, you limit the spend to only items that fit within it.
DIY Decorations đĄ
We all fantasise about affording the fancy decs in Paperchase. But letâs be real: ainât nobody got the budget for a ÂŁ100 worth of bejewelled bats. Instead, why not gather your friends for a crafting sesh to make your own decorations? Youâd be surprised what coloured paper, scissors, string, glitter and a little bit of creativity can achieve. Check out this paper garland from Etsy for inspiration.
Cheap tricks for sweet treats đŹ
Even a modest budget can make a mean Halloween banquet. For an affordable main course, try an easy homemade pizza complete with mozzarella ghosts and black olive spiders. For dessert, unleash your inner baker and make some adorable spooky treats for you and your housemates to enjoy.
We love these easy bake Halloween cookies â theyâre simple to make, taste delicious and are almost too cute to eat. Whatâs more, the ingredients will go far, so you can make several batches to accompany a horror movie marathon.
Spooktacular drinking games đ»
Sadly, lockdown restrictions mean Halloween pub crawls and club nights are off the menu â but who ever said you canât go big AND go home? âGood Witch, Bad Witchâ is a classic drinking game for students on a budget.
Go in with your housemates on a few spirits (no pun intended) and mix up some âgood witchâ shots such as fireballs and vodka sodas along with a line of âbad witchâ shots â weâre talking straight tequila, sambuca or whisky. Next, everyone flips a coin: if they get heads, they get a good witch shot. Tails will take you straight to the bad witch table where scary shots and a long night awaitsâŠ
Netflix & Kill đș
Take advantage of the endless catalogue of scary movies available on streaming services for an all-night horror-show. Itâs totally free (with the exception of a subscription) and is a low-key thrill ride in itself. Start with the classics if you havenât seen them: Halloween, Scream and Friday the 13th are all a must-watch.
Mix it up with some modern entries like It Follows or Hereditary â just make sure you have something or someone to hide behind. Youâve been warned...
Sustainably spooky costumes đ»
Donât blow your overdraft on high-end fancy dress and top-tier face-paints for one night only. Thereâs plenty of ways to keep the costs down on your costume and still look the part. Charity shops are a great place for student Halloween costumes and finishing touches â after all, one manâs trash is another manâs treasure! You just have to think outside the box and get a bit creative.
Alternatively, why not customise old clothes you donât wear anymore? Ripped tights, fake blood and dirty clothes are all you need to become a victim of a Zombie attack.
Pumpkin carving competition đ
If you donât mind getting your hands dirty, this one is an absolute classic Halloween activity. Itâs also harder than it looks! But donât let that dampen your ambition. All you need is several pumpkins (the closer to Halloween you buy them, the cheaper they will be) and a carving knife. We also recommend gloves for safety and a spoon so you can scoop out the innards.
If you like the flavour of pumpkin, donât let the good bits go to waste - you can use them to make all manner of things, including a winter warmer soup or seasonal muffins.
Go on a ghost tour of the city đ”ïžââïž
Every city has its secrets, and what better way to finish the spooky season than a ghost tour of all old haunts? If youâre a lover of all things paranormal, take the opportunity to discover the darker side of your cityâs history.
Save yourself some cash and carry out the research yourself: then impress your friends with your local knowledge of the ghosts and ghouls who inhabit iconic buildings and your favourite pubs. Top it off with a quiz back at the flat â whoever scores the most points can get first choice on what horror film to watch!
Do the monster mash đ
The clubs being closed is no excuse to have an early night; Halloween events for students donât start and end on the high street. Crank the spooky tunes and host a Halloween dance-off in your house. We recommend starting the competition once the drinks are flowing and adding some quirky rules to keep it interesting.
A memory dance game always makes for a catalogue of errors: start with a simple move, like the sprinkler or the shopping trolley, and build up to incorporate a series of moves that your friends must remember to avoid penalties - like hopping on one leg for an entire song.
What plans do you have this Halloween? Let us know on Twitter.