Budget Friendly Halloween Tips for Grad Students

Written by Serigne Thiam, Graduate Assistant for the Graduate College

Spooky season’s just around the corner! Halloween’s the perfect time to unleash your monstrous creativity, snack on some delicious goodies, and unwind from the rigors of graduate school. However, sometimes there’s this pesky obstacle to fully immersing yourself into the Halloween spirit: your budget. Lay down the horrific gasp, as there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the spooky season without having to break the bank. Here’s how graduate students can celebrate Halloween on a budget and still have a supernatural time.

Sometimes the best look is the one you made! Premade, commercial costumes can look stunning, yes, but can be expensive. Simple costumes can be just as ghouling, like a classic ghost or a movie slasher villain. Putting together your own costume from household items and your closet will not only save you money but also make the experience more enjoyable.

It can be tempting to take a trip to the local supermarket and splurge on massive and impressive decorations, but the dollar can be just as resourceful. Many dollar stores sell Halloween decorations at a fraction of the cost, and often sell in bulk. Be on the lookout for deals and discounts at any outlet, as larger supermarket chains may have their seasonal aisles stock to the brim with dastardly good deals as we get closer to Halloween.

Buy your sweets and treats in bulk! Lots of stores like Target or Walmart offer bulk deals on candy. You could also visit bulk stores like Costco or Sam’s Club if you have membership. If you’re on a tight budget, it’s perfectly fine to limit how much candy you give out to trick-or-treaters. Consider handing out non-candy items, like small toys, stickers, small Halloween decorations, or any Halloween-themed item.

Few festivities scream money-saving strategy like a potluck. Instead of sacrificing your wallet for an extravagant Halloween bash, ask your friends and family to bring a dish and their Halloween spirit! You can even bolster the mood by encouraging your guests to bring Halloween themed dishes. This way, you’ll still cultivate a fang-tastic time while keeping your wallet as happy as can be.

Who says you must go out to have a good time with friends? Having a movie night is low-cost and is an effective way to get into the Halloween spirit. You can stream staple horror movie classics like Child’s Play (1988) or recent releases like Evil Dead Rise (2023).  Snacks will cost less, and you can have your friends bring snacks to boost the fun and festivities. Happy movie binging!

Where’s the hocus pocus going on in Cincinnati, you may ask? No worries, we’ve got you covered with a few:

Weekends at the BOO!seum: Come on down to the Cincinnati Museum to show off your costumes and join in on the entertainment, science experiments, and more! See the Weekends at the BOO!seum for tickets and information. 

• Where: Union Terminal

• When: Weekends through October 31 

• Cost of Admission: Adult: $22.50 Child: $15.50

Underwater Pumpkin GLOW: Explore giant glowing animals made from pumpkins, snack on pumpkin treats and wander the underwater pumpkin patch in this fall adventure like you’ve never seen before! Get tickets for the Underwater Pumpkin GLOW. 

• Where: Newport Aquarium

• When: September 16 – November 3 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

• Cost of Admission: Free with general admission ($22.99)

Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC) Haunted Trail: Cincinnati’s recreation commission is offering plenty of family friendly activities all October long! Participate in outdoor movies, costume contests, and more. See the Haunted Trail event schedule. 

• Where: Cincinnati Recreation Centers

• When: Through October 31 at various times 

• Cost of Admission: Free

Halloween is all about coming together to have fun and be creative, but you don’t have to splurge to make the most of it. By tapping into your creativity and resourcefulness, you’ll still enjoy the spook-tacular season while keeping the costs low.