How families are cutting the cost of Halloween as spending grows

Published25 October 2026, 07:09 GMT

Halloween has become one of the UK's biggest seasonal celebrations, with spending on costumes, decorations and themed events continuing to grow.

As a mum, I have already found myself buying three costumes for different Halloween occasions this year. For many families, the costs can add up quickly.

That is why some parents say they are increasingly turning to costume swaps, second-hand outfits and homemade creations rather than buying new every year.

Earlier this month, businesses told the BBC that Halloween had become more important than Christmas for some attractions and retailers, while a survey found 36% of shoppers planned to celebrate Halloween this year, up from 27% in 2025.

From Facebook groups dedicated to swapping outfits to charity shop bargains and creative upcycling projects, families are finding ways to embrace the spooky season without frightening their finances.

For Birmingham mum Mandy Thomas, finding affordable costumes became essential when her daughters were younger.

"I figured out really quickly that I needed to cut costs where I could when Halloween came around," she said.

"There would be a school event, trick-or-treating and a friend's party, and they didn't want to dress up as the same thing every time.

"A friend put me onto these Facebook groups where people swap or sell costumes really cheaply.

"When one of them wants to be a specific character, I search eBay or Vinted and I usually spend a quarter of the original price."

With many costumes worn only a handful of times before being packed away, swapping and reselling outfits has become a popular way for parents to save money while helping to reduce waste.

Charity shops have also noticed increased demand for Halloween outfits.

At the RSPCA charity shop in Coundon, Coventry, manager Ellya Hayden said staff prepare for the spooky season throughout the year by putting aside suitable donations.

"We know that at Halloween and Christmas there's going to be lots of buying going on, and people prefer to cut costs by shopping in charity shops," she said.

"We save any sellable costumes that come in and get them ready for display.

"It's really great to see the kids coming in and getting excited and there's always someone who needs a last-minute costume."

Some costumes sell for as little as £1.50, she said, while items still in their original packaging are often priced at about a quarter of their retail value.

"It's really important to reuse and recycle costumes. We try to repair items where we can so they can have multiple lives," Hayden said.

For some families, saving money means making something from scratch.

In Coventry, Adele Harrison, founder of not-for-profit organisation Cov Cloth, runs workshops that teach children and parents how to transform unwanted textiles and household items into Halloween costumes, decorations and accessories.

She said the sessions help families develop creative habits while showing that many Halloween outfits can be made using items already found at home.

"Our Halloween workshops are especially popular," she said.

"Young people have a great day and leave with homemade Halloween treasures, including accessories, costumes and decorations they've made themselves."

Although families pay to attend the sessions, Harrison said the principles could easily be applied using old tights, cereal boxes and unwanted clothing.

"Our message is: before heading to the shops, use what you already have," she said.

"Get creative, save some money and let your children see how brilliant they are.

"The families may not necessarily see it as a money-saver on the day, but the practices we promote are money-saving creative habits."

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Coventry

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Cost of Living

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