VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Did you know Halloween is one of the highest grossing holidays in the United States? Between costumes, treats, decorations and parties; consumers are planning on spending about $8.4 billion ($82.93 per person) this year on the holiday according to the National Retail Association. That is up from 2015 spending when consumers were expected to spend $6.9 billion ($74.34 per person).

Sue Milender Toppen is an NDSU Extension Educator in Barnes County and promotes good health and safety tips for the public.

Ways to Save

Costumes: When you think of Halloween, the first thing that comes to mind for many is what costume they will wear. This can be a huge expense when planning for the holiday. Some ways to find some less expensive alternatives may be to check thrift stores. If you are crafty, you could make your own.

Use last year’s costumes. Have you ever noticed that children’s costumes are sized for a two-year age range? Reuse for a few years and save. Or, if you have more than one child do the hand-me-down system. If you don’t have the option of sibling hand-me-downs, talk to your friends who are parents and set up a costume swap. One more savings tip is to skip the pet costume. Sure they are cute, but is this really a good use of money?

Waiting until the last minute can save you 30% to 40% on costumes. You are taking the risk that the size and costume you want will be available until then, but if you don’t care it can really save you some money. If you have a little extra money at the end of the month, buy next year’s costume. Stores try to clear out inventory quickly so they can start putting out Thanksgiving and Christmas inventory so you will see some great clearance prices.

Decorations: I may seem anti-Halloween, but are Halloween decorations really necessary? Trick-or-treaters are after one thing, TREATS! They really don’t care if your house is decorated as long as you are putting something yummy in their buckets. If you decide to decorate, use items you have on hand. Make a scarecrow out of old clothes or ghosts out of white garbage bags, use your imagination.

Candy: The price of candy is going up, and it may seem unavoidable to spend a lot on candy if you have a lot of children in your neighborhood. Did you know chocolate is more expensive than other candies? Compare prices on types of candy. Consider buying in bulk especially if you give out a lot of candy each year.

You don’t need to buy the candies with Halloween themed wrapping. You can probably buy the same item for less if it is just in its regular wrapper. Buy candy from dollar stores for added savings.

Party: If you are planning on having a Halloween party for either kids or adults, consider having it potluck. Give your guests a food type and tell them to be creative. This can save a ton of money by not having to provide all of the food.

Sources: Carrie Johnson, 701-231-8593, carrie.johnson.1@ndsu.edu