Halloween has quickly established itself as a money-spinner, with Brits expected to spend almost £700 million on the holiday this year, up from £400 million in 2017 according to Finder. Budgets are likely to be squeezed even more for 2022’s event, with food prices rising at their fastest pace in 14 years.
With constant pressure from the kids for the finest costumes and sweets imaginable, avoiding overspending could prove a challenge. This doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Halloween in style though.
There are plenty of ways to have a fun, albeit eerie, night on a budget. Richard Price, money saving expert and director of online supermarket Britsuperstore, has explained his top tips for cutting down your Halloween supermarket bill during times of extreme inflation.
When to carve the pumpkin
Anytime in October, in the run-up to Halloween, is a perfectly appropriate time to choose and buy your pumpkin. However its lifespan significantly reduces once carved.
The pumpkin will generally only last around five to 10 days once carved and hollowed out. It therefore makes most sense to ensure you time it right to avoid any unnecessary additional purchases.
Check supermarkets’ reduced sections
Many discounted products and deals can be picked up as Halloween draws ever closer. You could perhaps risk it and shop the night before to find reduced sweet treats as supermarkets look to shift their Halloween-inspired offerings.
While sell-by and best before dates will usually be more time-sensitive, significant amounts of money can be saved by scouring these aisles. Reduced sections can often have offers of up to 75% off products.
Use club and loyalty cards
An easy way to pick up rewards and regular discounts on branded products is through the supermarket’s club card or loyalty scheme. You should also make use of their discounts and sales by collecting coupons, as well as bulk-buying snacks when deals are in place.
Visit budget shops for sweets and drinks
Branded items are available at most supermarket outlets. However, shops like Home Bargains, Poundland and B&M are great for picking up the identical much-loved confectionary for a cheaper price.
Budget supermarkets Aldi and Lidl also have their own-brand spirits, which makes for a tidy saving. If you are seriously concerned about your outlays, there’s no shame in asking guests to bring a tipple of their own choice.
Bulk-buy sweets
When bulk-buying, you can check the label of the product to see the price per kilogram. This will inform you of the greatest value to be had, as buying big bags and bulk products usually works out cheaper.
This means stocking up on certain items should help save money in the long-run. You could even buy your Halloween and Christmas chocs in one go to avoid two confectionary shops. Warehouse clubs or wholesale clubs like Costco or Food Warehouse are usually a good option for bulk purchases.
Set a budget and make a list
Making a list before embarking on your Halloween shop should enable you to resist the temptation of chucking in any old sweets or snacks. For this same reason, you shouldn’t shop hungry or with your children as that will make it more likely to buy more than needed.
Setting a budget should also reduce the likelihood of buying non-essential items, while avoiding waste and overspending in the process.
Substitute big-name brands
While the draw of national brands is apparent, buying own-brand equivalents can often cut the cost of your supermarket shop by 30%, according to a MoneySavingExpert. As already mentioned, Aldi and Lidl are great at producing own-brand sweets and chocolates that are almost identical to branded products, while value can also be found with Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s’ own-brands.
Don’t just shop at eye level
This may sound silly, but reduced items on similar products can often be found by looking at the shelves above and below you. This is because marketers tend to put the more expensive choices right in front of you.
This is especially pronounced at Halloween as some items will be marked up, so digging for the right deals could save you money.
