How to Throw a Great Halloween Party on a Budget

A Great Halloween Bash Doesn't Have to Break the Bank!
A Great Halloween Bash Doesn't Have to Break the Bank!

By: Juliana Weiss-Roessler

Celebrating Halloween with friends and family is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. But for some, the idea of hosting the tricks and treats of a Halloween party may seem far too terrifying on the budget. With Christmas just around the corner and budgets already tight, it's understandable to be more concerned with ensuring that you have enough to buy gifts for all your loved ones.

Throwing a spooky bash doesn't have to cost much at all! Here are some great - and not so scary - ways to throw a festive Halloween party on a budget:

Ask people to wear costumes
.

Half the fun of attending a Halloween party is checking out what everyone put together to wear. If you have to skimp on decorations, don't worry! Costumes are a great way to still create a festive holiday atmosphere that doesn't cost you a dime!

Send out an email invite.
Unless you're having a formal affair like an engagement party or a baby shower, there's no reason to waste money on paper invitations anymore. Sites like Facebook and Evite make it easy to contact all of your friends and gather RSVPs for events - for free.

Make it a potluck
. Encourage people to bring spooky foods. You can even send them a list of suggestions or sites where they can do their own searching. For those who may be deterred by the idea of having to cook something, offer the option to bring drinks instead.

Make it a late night affair. To avoid having to feed people a full meal, plan a party for after dinner. That way you can just serve a few inexpensive appetizers, such as chips, dip, pretzels, veggie trays, and nuts. You can also leave out some Halloween candy.

Wait until the last minute to shop.
Halloween items generally go on sale on October 31st. The stores don't want to hold onto the stuff until next year, so sometimes the discounts can be steep. If you are having your party on the day of or the weekend after, then hold off on your shopping trip a little longer.

Head to the dollar store. If your party is before Halloween or you just can't wait, then the best place to find spooky table clothes, plates, napkins, cups, and more is at your local dollar store. Fake spider webs are usually very cheap, and if you really stretch them out, you'll find that one or two packages can decorate quite a bit. A few websites that are worth checking out for deals on party supplies are: Oriental Trading and PartyCheap.

Play a scary movie. Need some fun ambience? Throw a classic horror film on in the background. You can leave the sound on for added spooky thrills or just have the visuals for people to enjoy.

Put on some spooky tunes.
If you have music on your iPod that will set the mood, create a special playlist for the event. Don't have anything? No worries! Try Pandora's free Halloween station. You can hook your computer up to speakers or your TV.

Have a costume contest.
It's easy, it's fun, and it's cheap. If you let people know in advance, you may find that they are more creative and excited about their costumes. You can offer prizes if you want, or the prize can simply be winning the title! Ask people to cast their votes for different categories, such as scariest, funniest, most authentic, and best overall. Then tally them up and announce the winners.

The most important part about throwing a good Halloween party is getting a great group of people together, so don't get too hung up on how much you have to spend. Throw together a few decorations, offer a little food and drink, and be ready to have a great time!

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