How to save this Halloween without scaring your budget
Halloween doesn’t have to be a financial nightmare if you plan ahead and implement some budget-friendly ideas.
From getting discounts at the cinema to finding the cheapest Halloween treats, here are a few top tips from which? to help you save money.
1. Find spooky events
The? Travel have recently compiled the best Halloween events taking place at some of the UK’s top rated historic castles. Some of the sites are owned by either the National Trust or English Heritage, which means members can visit them for free. There is also a special offer at National Trust homes this autumn for non-members, giving families with up to four children free entry to National Trust homes until the end of November. Note that some exceptions apply. Powis Castle’s Pumpkin Trail topped the list, closely followed by Hever Castle & Gardens’ Halloween family activities.\n
2. Watch scary movies cheaper
When it comes to family-friendly films, some cinema chains offer discounts on family films at certain times. For example, Cineworld’s Movies for Juniors screenings are £2.50 for children and accompanying adults, Odeon Kids offers a pay-as-you-go offer for adults, with the offer running every day during the school holidays and every Day Running On Saturdays and Sundays during the school holidays, Vue offers ‘Mini Mornings’ screenings from 10am with tickets for both adults and children costing just £2.49 each when you book online, or £3.49 if you buy locally.
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if If you want to see a scary movie, it pays to look for cinema deals and offers.
Anyone who buys a policy through price comparison website Compare the Market will receive 2-for-1 cinema tickets to a range of UK cinemas on a Tuesday or Wednesday for a year.
Some phone providers also offer cinema discounts. O2 customers have access to O2 Priority and can often request free Odeon tickets for use on Sundays and Mondays, Three Mobile customers can request £3 adult cinema tickets to Cineworld or Picturehouse using the Three+ Rewards app, and Vodafone customers can request two weekly Vue tickets for £7 via the VeryMe Rewards app.
3. Choose an inexpensive pumpkin
Supermarket fruit and veg aisles are full of pumpkins as Halloween approaches, but it’s worth shopping to find the cheapest. The? An analysis of the UK’s largest online supermarkets revealed that several supermarkets are offering medium-sized pumpkins for less than a pound. Aldi’s offering was the cheapest, costing just 79p, Tesco slightly more at 85p and Morrisons at 99p. Lidl will likely also offer cheap options in-store, but prices aren’t available online. Waitrose and Asda did not have medium pumpkins available online, only large ones at £3.50 and £2 respectively. If you have leftover pumpkin and want to avoid waste, you can make roasted pumpkin seeds or pumpkin soup.
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4. Try DIY decorations
If you want to go a step further than carving a pumpkin and try to decorate your home for the occasion, there’s an easy way to save money by creating your spooky designs from scratch using materials that you already have. Search your attic or some charity shops for old dolls that make spooky ornaments. You can also print out paper decorations — like skulls, spider webs, and personalized headstones — to pin in your home.
5. Make your own Halloween costumes
Decorations aren’t the only thing you can do yourself. There are many websites and videos on the internet that give ideas and inspiration for creating your own Halloween costumes and looks using everyday makeup – rather than buying fake blood and face paint.
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You can also use old clothes and sheets to make outfits. If you decide to buy a costume from a store, make sure it’s safe by looking for a visible CE or UKCA mark on the label or packaging. The? previously tested children’s Halloween costumes and found that some did not meet UK safety standards.
6. Find the cheapest Halloween treats
If you’re expecting trick-or-treating or want to stock up on treats for a Halloween party, buying candy doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Many supermarkets and shops have sales in the run-up to Halloween, so it pays to find the best ones. B&M has a range of themed sweets on sale for £1 or less and Aldi sells Halloween nets from 59p.
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