In spite of economic concerns, tariffs, and persistent inflation, Americans still plan to celebrate Halloween this year, with younger generations, ages 18 to 44, leading the pack. Ninety-three percent of Gen Z and 87% of millennials said they plan to celebrate the holiday, based on a survey from CIT Bank conducted by The Harris Poll.
Take our poll: How much do you plan to spend on Halloween?
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But you’re never “too old” to sport a costume, throw a party, decorate your home, or hand out candy to kids. Three-quarters (76%) of Gen X (ages 45 to 60) and 66% of Americans ages 61 and up shared that they also plan to celebrate Halloween.
CivicScience uncovered at least one of the reasons why folks are anticipating the harvest season holiday so much this year: Nearly half of the people feeling “sad” or “fearful” in the past week said they are looking forward to Halloween “more than usual.”
After all, what better way to escape your worries than to become someone else for an evening in a fun costume and eat (or share) chocolate treats?
Halloween spending rises
In line with enthusiasm for the holiday, Halloween spending is also up, based on research from CivicScience. Their poll found that 28% of people plan to spend more on Halloween this year than last year, up 5% from last year’s survey.
Data from the National Retail Federation supported these findings, with Halloween spending expected to reach $13.1 billion this year, up from $11.6 billion in 2024 and $12.2 billion in 2023.
How much are older adults spending on Halloween?
Even though the majority of older Americans are celebrating Halloween, many are finding ways to do it for less. Americans age 61+ said they plan to spend just $93 on the holiday, according to CIT Bank. That’s substantially less than Gen Z ($622) or even the average household ($420).
Halloween spending also correlates with whether survey respondents had children at home or not. Households with children expected to spend $652 for the season, compared to just $215 for households with no kids.
Candy purchases surpass other spending, according to NRF, with 66% of consumers across all age groups handing out candy, and 51% wearing a costume and/or decorating for the holiday.
Here are five ways you can consider cutting back and still enjoy the season. Don’t worry: With these frugal tips, you won’t have to resort to handing out raisins to trick-or-treaters.
Buy candy in bulk
Purchasing candy in bulk, even if you opt for full-size bars, can save you a bundle. If you see full-size chocolate bars for just over $1 per bar, grab them. If you want to splurge on other sweet treats, wholesale club BJ’s has 40-count buckets of Ring Pops (a nostalgic favorite) for just $12.99. Walmart offers giant bags of fun size chocolates for just $10, but you can save even more per pound buying the $25 bag.
Shop at a dollar store
If you decide to forego the warehouse club and buy your candy from a dollar store or other discount retailer, you’re not alone. According to CIT Bank, 49% of consumers plan to shop at a dollar store for their Halloween needs this year.
By planning your purchases carefully, you may avoid the need to switch to less expensive candy, a tactic only 24% of respondents are adopting to cut costs.
Spend less on costumes
If you need a Halloween costume for work or a party, you might not be keen on spending $40, $50 or more for something you’ll only wear once. Consider dusting off a costume from a prior year (no one will remember) or trading costumes with a friend of a similar size. Also check your local buy/sell/trade groups on Facebook for people giving away costumes or selling them cheap.
If you’re tasked with finding a costume for a child or grandchild, also check out buy/sell/trade groups for free or cheap finds. Also consider thrifting a costume to save money; 26% of CIT Bank survey respondents are doing exactly that for costumes or decorations.
Make your own decorations
If you’re like many of the over-50 crowd, you already have a basement, attic, garage or shed stuffed with decorations for every season. But if you want a few fresh pieces, consider making them yourself to save money.
Wreaths, jack-o-lanterns, and tiny floating ghosts made from white napkins and fishing line or ribbon all make cute and classy decorations. You can also fill mason jars with inexpensive, battery-operated LED fairy lights and wrap gauze around the jars to light a path for trick-or-treaters.
Shop after November 1 for items you can use next year
Still not feeling your Halloween décor? If you can hold out until November 1 you can snag clearance sales of 50% to 75% off or more to expand your collection.
Don’t waste any time. Visit stores like Spirit Halloween, Michael’s, Home Depot or Lowe’s on November 1. More than one-quarter (27%) of shoppers plan to do exactly that, so you’ll want to get there early in the day to find the best selection of what’s left.
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