Tips To Throw A Spooky Halloween Party On The Super-Cheap

Marty Mcfly Published 10/10/2014

Save money and reduce waste with these DIY tips for hosting an eco-friendly Halloween bash!

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1.
Send email invites instead of paper ones.If you want to be fancy, you can score a professionally-designed Evite template on Etsy...who knew?
2.
OK, now it's time to creepify your casa...
3.
Old cardboard boxes paint become creepy tombstones.
4.
5.
Old milk jugs also make great skeletons
6.
Crank up the creepiness by using chalk or masking tape to simulate the outline of a murdered body.
7.
Repurpose glass pickle, baby food, or spaghetti sauce jars as freakish science experiments. Just fill with water, add a few drops of non-toxic food coloring, and drop in food, animal toys or other strange objects.
8.
Nothing says Halloween like a giant spider web!
9.
A little construction paper turns your holiday string lights into vampire bats!
10.
Yard leaves stuffed into old clothes makes a great scarecrow and your lawn will look better!.
11.
Of course you can never go wrong with pumpkin or gourd decorations and they can be eaten or composted when fright night is over.
12.
Now it's time to select some spooky Halloween eats.Avoid candy and other treats that are individually wrapped, as this creates a lot of waste. Choose to DIY homemade items--like this watermelon brain--that can be purchased in bulk andor composted when the party's over. Also, save money and reduce waste by serving edibles with the same washable plates, cutlery, and glasses you use every day. No one cares about napkins and cups with pumpkins on them. Trust me.
13.
Jack o' lantern rice krispie treats.
14.
Deviled egg "eyeballs."
15.
Vials of Vampire Blood Tomato Soup
16.
Witches' Digits cookies
17.
Hot apple cider with...shrunken heads!
18.
Swap costumes and accessories with friends.Ask your friends to pool their old costumes andor appropriate accessories. Get together one night before Halloween, and have a costume swap. This is especially helpful if you're looking for kids costumes or attending multiple parties. Everyone walks away with a new-to-them outfit!
19.
Plan some low-impact party activities. Like...A pumpkin carving station! Everyone brings their own pumpkin and tools can be crowdsourced from family and neighbors. Be sure to have a receptacle for saving pumpkin seeds and pulp: Seeds can be seasoned and roasted for a healthy snack, and pulp can be used to make everything from pumpkin soup to bread!
20.
No-bake caramel corn! This recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie is so easy, you can do it together, during the party, and won't have to worry about burning the house down. It's even more fun if you air pop the corn!
21.
Play the "Shot in the Dark" drinking game: First, choose a really campy horror flick. After guests arrive, play the movie in the background or in a separate room. Whenever someone gets shot, everyone does a shot. Or whenever a character screams, everyone drinks. Or whenever they say a certain word Jason! everyone chugs beer. You get the idea.
22.
Bobbing for apples! This is a time-honored Halloween tradition that involves almost no waste: Eat the apples, and use the water to water plants or fill the dog dish.
23.
Last but certainly not least, it's time to DIY your Halloween costume.If you weren't able to secure the right look at the costume swap, don't panic: There are dozens of clever homemade costume ideas available on the Interwebs. Many of them can be made using stuff you already own!
24.
This cardboard croc ain't half bad either.
25.
A backpack and an empty cheesy poofs container are all you need for this impressive Jar Head costume.
26.
Your gamer friends are sure to appreciate Pixelated Zelda.
27.
An upcycled broken umbrella makes this bat costume a winner.
28.
Friends old sheets paint Traveling Art Exhibit.
29.
What couple hasn't dreamed of being interlocking Tetrominos?
30.
Of course, you can never go wrong with crazed Jack Torrance from The Shining.

1.
Send email invites instead of paper ones.If you want to be fancy, you can score a professionally-designed Evite template on Etsy...who knew?
2.
OK, now it's time to creepify your casa...
3.
Old cardboard boxes paint become creepy tombstones.
4.
5.
Old milk jugs also make great skeletons
6.
Crank up the creepiness by using chalk or masking tape to simulate the outline of a murdered body.
7.
Repurpose glass pickle, baby food, or spaghetti sauce jars as freakish science experiments. Just fill with water, add a few drops of non-toxic food coloring, and drop in food, animal toys or other strange objects.
8.
Nothing says Halloween like a giant spider web!
9.
A little construction paper turns your holiday string lights into vampire bats!
10.
Yard leaves stuffed into old clothes makes a great scarecrow and your lawn will look better!.
11.
Of course you can never go wrong with pumpkin or gourd decorations and they can be eaten or composted when fright night is over.
12.
Now it's time to select some spooky Halloween eats.Avoid candy and other treats that are individually wrapped, as this creates a lot of waste. Choose to DIY homemade items--like this watermelon brain--that can be purchased in bulk andor composted when the party's over. Also, save money and reduce waste by serving edibles with the same washable plates, cutlery, and glasses you use every day. No one cares about napkins and cups with pumpkins on them. Trust me.
13.
Jack o' lantern rice krispie treats.
14.
Deviled egg "eyeballs."
15.
Vials of Vampire Blood Tomato Soup
16.
Witches' Digits cookies
17.
Hot apple cider with...shrunken heads!
18.
Swap costumes and accessories with friends.Ask your friends to pool their old costumes andor appropriate accessories. Get together one night before Halloween, and have a costume swap. This is especially helpful if you're looking for kids costumes or attending multiple parties. Everyone walks away with a new-to-them outfit!
19.
Plan some low-impact party activities. Like...A pumpkin carving station! Everyone brings their own pumpkin and tools can be crowdsourced from family and neighbors. Be sure to have a receptacle for saving pumpkin seeds and pulp: Seeds can be seasoned and roasted for a healthy snack, and pulp can be used to make everything from pumpkin soup to bread!
20.
No-bake caramel corn! This recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie is so easy, you can do it together, during the party, and won't have to worry about burning the house down. It's even more fun if you air pop the corn!
21.
Play the "Shot in the Dark" drinking game: First, choose a really campy horror flick. After guests arrive, play the movie in the background or in a separate room. Whenever someone gets shot, everyone does a shot. Or whenever a character screams, everyone drinks. Or whenever they say a certain word Jason! everyone chugs beer. You get the idea.
22.
Bobbing for apples! This is a time-honored Halloween tradition that involves almost no waste: Eat the apples, and use the water to water plants or fill the dog dish.
23.
Last but certainly not least, it's time to DIY your Halloween costume.If you weren't able to secure the right look at the costume swap, don't panic: There are dozens of clever homemade costume ideas available on the Interwebs. Many of them can be made using stuff you already own!
24.
This cardboard croc ain't half bad either.
25.
A backpack and an empty cheesy poofs container are all you need for this impressive Jar Head costume.
26.
Your gamer friends are sure to appreciate Pixelated Zelda.
27.
An upcycled broken umbrella makes this bat costume a winner.
28.
Friends old sheets paint Traveling Art Exhibit.
29.
What couple hasn't dreamed of being interlocking Tetrominos?
30.
Of course, you can never go wrong with crazed Jack Torrance from The Shining.