How To Host A Halloween Party On A Student Budget
Get ready to spook, without blowing your budget. 👻
Spooky season is almost here, and that means plenty of opportunities to celebrate all things Halloween. But are you ready to throw a Halloween party, let alone on a student budget?
Fear not, dear reader—we’re here to help. We’ve made a one-stop shop list of everything you’ll need to throw the best Halloween party ever, all within a student budget. From Halloween party food and Halloween party costumes to Halloween themes and Halloween recipes, you’ll be ready to throw a spooky bash in no time.
Halloween Party Prep
Party Food & Drink
Halloween party food is the most important part of throwing the best Halloween party on a student budget. Find your perfect inspiration below:
Halloween Party Food
Don’t feel like you have to get overly complicated when it comes to Halloween party food. There’s plenty of things you can do with some bags of candy, like this Halloween S’mores board as seen on TikTok. Plus, you’re probably already going to have some candy on hand, and guests can customize their s’more with their favorite Halloween candy!
You could also make it even easier by doing a candy board, omitting the s’mores angle. Think of it like a charcuterie board, but only with sweet treats for your guests to munch on throughout the night.
This dirt pudding station is also an easy way for guests to craft their own delicious Halloween dessert. With some store-bought pudding mix, ground up Halloween Oreos, and plenty of candy, your party guests will happily relive one of their favorite treats from their childhood.
For more quick and easy Halloween food inspo, check out these websites:
- Food Network’s Top 50 Halloween Recipes
- Delish’s 29 Scary-Good Halloween Recipes
- Pillsbury’s Best Halloween Recipes
- Betty Crocker’s Best Halloween Recipes
- Taste of Home‘s Halloween Recipes
Halloween Recipes
A seriously easy dessert for your Halloween party is this creepy (albeit tasty) take on cinnamon rolls. Simply unroll a can of prepackaged cinnamon rolls and bake them as the directions say. Then tint the glaze with some strawberry jam to make them look truly frightening!
For something sweet and salty, this easy recipe just needs a few pantry staples to turn into a deliciously addictive Halloween party food treat. Be sure to add the Halloween sprinkles for extra flair and spooky spirit!
Party Decorations
You can’t host a Halloween party on a student budget without having some seriously festive decorations! Whether you’re hosting a fun indoor bash or a cozy outdoor gathering, there are plenty of ways to up the spooky factor without spending a fortune.
Party Decor: Indoor
Indoor Halloween party decor on a budget is a bit easier to find than outdoor Halloween decorations. We love the look of these spooky eyes, which were simply made by stringing paper plates together and cutting out a circle of black paper to use as the pupil. You could easily make a great photo backdrop for your party with a whole wall of these creepy eyes!
Don’t be afraid to use printout options, too. Places like Etsy have thousands of options when it comes to Halloween decor, and all you have to do is print them out and decorate to your heart’s desire. Plus, they’re usually only a couple bucks for a whole pack of printouts, so you can get super festive on a budget.
Party Decor: Outdoor
It can be easy to go overboard with spending when it comes to outdoor Halloween decor. Don’t feel like you have to hit up a party store and buy tons of decorations to make your space look festive. With a few flowers and balloons (and of course pumpkins), this relaxed outdoor party is perfect for Halloween.
Balloons in general are a great way to go for outdoor Halloween decorations since they’re relatively inexpensive. Just be sure to allow enough time to blow them up yourself and arrange them accordingly so it looks polished and not last-minute.
For more DIY Halloween decoration ideas, check out the following places:
- Good Housekeeping‘s 75 Easy DIY Halloween Decorations
- Martha Stewart’s Halloween Decorating Ideas
- HGTV’s 100 Favorite Halloween Decorating Ideas
Halloween Party Costumes
The most obvious thing you’re going to need for your Halloween party is a killer costume (pun 100% intended). But where should you begin when it comes to costume-hunting? With so many options, it can be tough to narrow down.
It usually takes a good month to figure out what you want to do for your Halloween costume. Plus, don’t forget you need to have plenty of time to purchase it in case it’s something super popular. The last thing you’d want is it to sell out.
If you’re making your costume, you’ll need time to get materials and put it together. Trying to rush through a homemade costume shows, so allow plenty of time for any hiccups or changed you might have to navigate.
Needing a last-minute costume? Check out our full list of ideas.
Ask For Help/Assign Tasks
Don’t feel like you have to plan, organize, and execute your Halloween party alone. Ask your friends to pitch in—we’re sure they’d be happy to lend a hand. Whether that’s helping prepare food, set-up decor, or even running out to grab a bag of ice, there’s no shame in asking for help.
The same goes if you’re the one attending the Halloween party. If the host asks you for a quick and easy favor, it’s always a good idea to oblige. Plus, you never know when you might need a favor from them in the future. Pay it forward by helping out when you can.
Halloween Party Set-Up
When it comes to setting up your Halloween party, always assume everything is going to take longer than you originally planned. Leaving things until the last minute is just setting yourself up for disaster. You’d rather have extra time instead of not enough. Here’s a quick rundown on how you should schedule things out:
One Month Away
- Send invitations
- Plan your costume and start purchasing what you’ll need for it
- Start working on the perfect party playlist
- Watch ads for sales for Halloween decor
- Draft your menu
Two Weeks Away
- Put the finishing touches on your playlist
- Finalize your menu and make a grocery list
- Finish your costume
One Week Away
- Check in with guests who haven’t RSVP’ed and finalize the headcount
- Start your grocery shopping 2-3 days ahead of the party
The Day Before
- Start decorating
- Prep any food that can be done the day before (like baking or things that can be chilled overnight)
- Carve pumpkins
The Day Of
- Finish decorating
- Set-up food stations
- Get your costume on!
- Aim to have everything done 20-30 minutes before the party starts
Do you feel ready to throw the perfect Halloween party now? We know you’ll do a great job, all while staying within your student budget. Don’t forget to check out Student Beans to help you save on any party supplies, too!
Be sure to hit up Amazon and their second Prime Day to save on Halloween decor. And celebrate the festive season by getting paid to drink Pumpkin Spice Lattes!
