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Are you getting ready for Halloween? This is our daughter’s 2nd Halloween – and since she is just 17 months old, it’s the first that we are actually doing any Halloween type things with her.

I’ll be the first to admit that Halloween is not my favorite holiday, but there are some fun things to do that aren’t scary or gruesome for kids.

Today, I wanted to share a few fun and super frugal ideas to help you celebrate Halloween with your family!

10 Frugal Family Halloween Ideas & Activities

Try these ideas for Halloween fun on a budget! 10 frugal family Halloween ideas and activities: reading fall and Halloween books, painting pumpkins, DIY crafts

1. Check out Halloween, fall, or pumpkin related books from the library.

Our sweet librarian helped me pick out several great little Halloween books and books about fall and pumpkins to set up in our little bookcase.

The book Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell is really sweet!

2. Make pumpkin or leaf shaped cookies.

You can get some fall shaped cookie cutters and bake/decorate cookies together.

You could also try a different fall flavored cookie recipe.

The slice and bake Halloween cookies are also great – keep it simple!

3. Make DIY costumes.

Costumes can get expensive! Think of a fun costume you can make with supplies from around the home, or buy just the accessories for a costume and find clothing in your closets that fits the look.

My daughter loves butterflies right now, so I got some butterfly wings and we are just going to add clothes she already has and make a little DIY ribbon for her to wave.

Check Pinterest for DIY costume ideas!

4. Visit a pumpkin patch.

Many pumpkin patches offer free entry, and only charge for activities or if you want to buy pumpkins.

Take a picnic and enjoy being outside together! If you feel like you have to buy something, you could each pick a small pumpkin, or choose a large family pumpkin.

5. Paint or carve pumpkins.

This is such a fun activity and can become a family tradition you do year after year.

You don’t need many supplies for this, just a knife or small carving kit, or some paint that you may already have around the home.

6. Make DIY fall themed art.

Use items from nature like leaves, acorns and sticks to make DIY art.

You could trace over leaves, use nature items and glue to make art, build something with sticks, or have kids draw pictures while observing nature.

7. Family pictures

Fall is such a great time to take family pictures and they don’t have to be expensive!

I found a local person that was offering mini sessions at a really great price – way less than a full session!

If you can’t afford a mini session, see if another family wants to meet up and take pictures for each other – you can do a lot with your phones these days!

8. Decorate trick or treating bags/buckets.

Get supplies from Dollar Tree or a craft store and have the kids decorate their own trick or treating bag or bucket. You could use paint, stickers, markers, ribbons, or any other craft supplies you have on hand.

9. Make a fun snack.

Find an easy fall or Halloween snack idea to make together or for your family. You could even make it into a little party with orange or Halloween decorations from Dollar Tree for your table.

10. Trick or treat or trunk or treating.

Of course, trick or treat or trunk or treating is the ultimate frugal Halloween idea! Free candy! 🙂

Bonus Idea:

Check stores for Halloween clearance after the holiday is over for things to buy for next year.

You can buy costumes one size up, fun decor for super cheap, party supplies, and other things.

You can also buy Halloween candy for a lot cheaper after Halloween if you decided to skip trick or treating this year. Divide it up into little treat bags for the kids, or surprise them throughout the next month with a little treat every now and then.

Keep it simple!

Holidays can easily get expensive and out of hand with all of the things you could do. I’m all about keeping it simple and frugal, and enjoying the things we can do and buy.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself this coming holiday season. Ask your kids and family what they care about and what things they would like to do, and go with that. You can’t and don’t have to do everything!