How to Celebrate Halloween on a Budget: DIY Costumes, Cheap Décor & Candy Deals

Store-bought costumes can be pricey — but everyday clothes can be surprisingly magical! Here are four easy, wallet-friendly wins:

  • Closet Raid = Costume Gold: That striped tee? Pirate. Black leggings? Cat. Add a scarf or whiskers and voilà — you’ve got a costume without spending a dime.
  • Cape It Simple: A towel, pillowcase, or sheet instantly transforms into a cape. Pair it with sneakers and a paper mask for a superhero who’s ready to save the day!
  • The Ghost of Costumes Past: The classics never die. An old sheet with cut-out eyes or a witch hat from last year is spooky, silly, and budget-approved.
  • Little Props, Big Magic: A $5 wand, tiara, or toy sword can turn ordinary clothes into something magical — no sewing required!

👉 Shop affordable props at Walmart or Target, scan your receipt, and let those kicks add up.

Transform your home into a haunted hideaway without breaking the bank:

  • Bats on a Budget: Cut out bat shapes from black paper and tape them to your walls. It’s eerie, easy, and costs less than a cup of coffee.
  • Jar of Boos: Old mason jars + tea lights = instant spooky lanterns. Paint them orange or white for pumpkin or ghost vibes. Grab supplies at Walmart or Target, submit your receipt, and earn kicks back.
  • Little Hands, Big Help: Kids can stuff paper bags with leaves to make “mini monsters,” or stretch faux cobwebs across doorways for a haunted house feel.
  • Porch Parade: A few pumpkins, twinkle lights, and a sheet ghost on the swing make trick-or-treaters stop and stare (in awe, not fear).

👉 Love seasonal home updates? Check out our Fall Décor Done Right blog for more inspiration.

Woman in witch costume and shopping bags

No Halloween is complete without candy — but you don’t have to overpay to keep the bowl full. Stock up on chocolate bars, gummies, and lollipops at your favorite stores, then scan and submit your receipts in Shopkick to earn rewards back.

From 10/24 – 10/31, you’ll even get bonus spooky kicks when you shop select Halloween favorites. And on Halloween night only, you can score 2X kicks just by walking into stores like Target, Walmart, and CVS. It’s a little treat just for you, while the kids are busy filling their buckets.

👉 Want more everyday savings? Don’t miss our Best Coupon Apps for Groceries post.

At the end of the night, when costumes are piled on the couch, candy buckets are overflowing, and the porch lights glow, you’ll remember it didn’t take a big budget to make big memories. It just took a little creativity, some classic tricks, and a few sweet kicks along the way.

👉 Check out more spooky inspiration in the app.

Amazon Prime Day 2025: Stack Savings with Shopkick

It’s also the perfect opportunity to get ahead on your holiday shopping—beat the December rush, grab gifts early, and save big before the busiest season of the year. And when you layer on Shopkick, those Prime Day steals get even sweeter.

  1. Stack Your Savings

    Shopkick works right on top of Prime Day deals. Simply shop Amazon through the Shopkick app to earn kicks (our reward points) while you score incredible discounts. It’s like double-dipping on savings — discounts now, gift cards later.

  2. Link Your Accounts for Automatic Rewards

    Want a hands-free way to rack up kicks? Link your Amazon account in the Shopkick app. Eligible purchases will track automatically, so every Prime Day buy — from big-ticket items to everyday must-haves — turns into more kicks.

  3. Redeem for an Amazon Gift Card

    Already earning kicks on your everyday shopping? You can redeem them directly for an Amazon gift card and use it toward Prime Day deals. It’s an easy way to stretch your budget and cover more holiday gifts without spending extra.

From October 1–5, you’ll earn entries just by doing what you already love in the app:

Every scan = 1 entry
Every eligible receipt upload = 5 entries
Linking your Amazon account = 10 entries

One lucky winner will score a $500 gift card — just in time to get a head start on holiday shopping!

Amazon Prime Day already gives you unbeatable discounts, but Shopkick takes things a step further. With Shopkick, you can:

It’s simple: download the free Shopkick app, link your Amazon account, and start earning kicks while you shop the year’s best deals.

Amazon Prime Day runs October 7–8, 2025. Don’t just save — stack your rewards, redeem for gift cards, and maybe even win $500.