New Halloween Traditions Can be Fun and Good for Your Budget

What’s more frightening to parents than overspending on Halloween festivities? The thought of disappointing their little ones because the Halloween traditions they know and love may not happen this year due to COVID-19. With restrictions on trick-or-treating and large gatherings, Halloween will be re-imagined this year, but fear not: within all this uncertainty lies an opportunity to reimagine your Halloween budget (in a good way!). Here are a few ideas for wonderful new traditions that will save money, too:

The magic of DIY costumes

• Go vintage: Off-the-rack costumes can be expensive, especially if you’re buying one for every member of the family. Instead of paying full retail price to go incognito, why not explore some DIY ideas? Build creative costumes using clothing and accessories found in vintage shops, consignment stores, or even in the back of your own closet.
• Host a costume swap: Costume swaps are gaining popularity as a budget-friendly alternative to buying retail. Arrange a time to safely exchange costumes and accessories with family and friends in your bubble, and have fun swapping items, and ideas.
• Get crafty: It’s amazing what can be done with a hoodie, cardboard box, hot glue gun, and a few pieces of felt. For inspiration, check out:

15 Easy DIY Dinosaur Costume Ideas for a Ferocious Halloween

8 DIY Halloween Costumes You Can Pull Together in Less Than an Hour

10 Halloween Costumes That Are So Easy Even Your Kids Can Make Them

Don’t buy it. Bake it.

Next to costumes, candy is the second largest line item in most Halloween budgets. Since trick-or-treating is on hold this year, why not devote some of the candy budget to a new baking budget? This is a less expensive option, and it could be the start of a fun, new family tradition in the kitchen. For ideas, check out 50+ Halloween Treats That Are Dangerously Delicious and 60+ Best Halloween Snacks for Kids to Devour This October.

The New Monster Mash

Trick-or-treating may be out, but virtual Monster Mash dance parties are in! It’s easy to transform the dining room into a dance hall for your superheroes and fairies. Move that table out of the way, and all you need are a few glow sticks, Halloween party music, disco laser projections, and your favorite video chat application. (Laser projectors range in price, starting at about $35. They can be a great investment because you can use them again for holiday festivities, birthday celebrations, and more).

Dress Up a Selfie Station

With a surge in online orders, cardboard boxes are easy to find. With a little paint and a nip and tuck here and there, you can give those old boxes new life as the background for an at-home selfie station. Kids will love making silly faces in their own photo booth using homemade props and accessories from Halloween’s past. It’s sure to be a hit with their friends on social media, too.

Host Spooky Saturdays

To break up the monotony of staying at home more this year, host Spooky Saturday movie nights leading up to Halloween. From Room on the Broom and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, to Beetlejuice and Hocus Pocus, there are plenty of age-appropriate Halloween movies available on streaming services you may already subscribe to monthly. You can even invite friends and family to join in the fun from afar by hosting a watch party using services such as Netflix Party or Amazon Watch Party.

Explore the great outdoors — in disguise

• Trails & Backyard Campfires: If the weather permits, take the festivities outside. Enjoy a socially-distanced, “haunted” walk in costume along a nature trail while by day, and gather around the fire pit and make S’mores in the backyard at night.
• Haunted History: Many communities are organizing haunted historical walks in compliance with current health and safety guidelines. (These events may not be suitable for young children, but they can be great for parents looking for a safe, fun and economical date nights in the fall). Research your local historical society and civic organizations to find a walk near you.

Make like MacGyver – Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle

For the items you need to purchase, consider how they can be reused or repurposed in the future. Consider reserving some pumpkins and decorating them with felt or construction paper instead of carving them. That way, they can be used at Thanksgiving. When lighting a Halloween setting, incorporate strings of white lights that can be used again during the holidays. Metallic or neutral table cloths transition well into other events, too. Of course, there are some quintessential items – spiders and spider webs, witch hats, and ghosts – that are only good once a year. For those things, be sure to comparative shop for the best price, and always consider if there is a homemade option.

For more tips, check out 10 doctor-approved ways for kids to celebrate Halloween during COVID.

Learn More

Fidelity Bank has built a strong history as trusted advisors to clients served, and is proud to be an active member of the community. With 20 branches located throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley, Fidelity Bank offers full-service Trust & Investment Departments, a mortgage center, and an array of personal and business banking products and services. The Bank provides 24 hour, 7 day a week service to clients through a variety of digital banking tools, branch offices, online at www.bankatfidelity.com, and through the Customer Care Center at 1-800-388-4380.

Daniel J. Santaniello, President, and CEO, of Fidelity Bank, publishes Financially Fit with Fidelity, your guide to financial well-being, every Thursday. If you’re interested in a financial topic we haven’t yet covered or want to subscribe to our emails, please feel free to drop us a line at blog@fddbank.com. We would love to hear from you.