1. Dollar Décor: Those big mainstream party stores can be expensive to shop at. Your local dollar store is your best bet for finding those cheap but decent Halloween decorations.

2. DIY Décor: It’s also easy to make your own décor as well. The Krazy Coupn Lady site offers different Halloween décor tutorials that you and your kids can make, including the Trash Bag Tarantula, Milk Jug Skeleton and Paper Bag Witch’s Broom.

3. DIY Hair Dye: Instead of spending money on expensive hair dyes, opt to make your own. Scrounge up that old sidewalk chalk, combine it with a bit of water, apply to the hair and spray with hairspray. It gives the same effect!

4. Costume Exchange: Not looking to spend more money on costumes your kids will only wear once? Get together with other families in your neighborhood or at church. Have everyone bring their children’s old costumes to swap. Remember to have everyone wash the costumes first as a courtesy.

5. Bulk Candy: If you’re expecting a large number of trick-or-treaters, consider using sites like www.bestbuycandy.com and www.candy.com to buy candy in bulk. Such sites offer a wide variety of treats, like a five-pound bag (80 ounces) of salt-water taffy for $19. In comparison, one bag of 30 snack-sized candy bars (16.3 ounces) from Walmart is $5.25. You’re saving $1.20 per pound with the online candy.

6. Re-Treat Bag: Pick up a reusable shopping bag from the grocery store for $1 or less. Cover the store logo with Halloween fabric, patches and other decorations from the craft store. Use hot glue so it can peel off easily later 

7. Pumpkin Painting: Put the carving on hold and just paint the pumpkins instead. They wash clean (when you use nontoxic paint) and you can use them later for baking and to roast the seeds for snacks.

8. Toothsome Treats: Hosting a Halloween party can be an expensive gig. Make it more affordable by baking your own Halloween cupcakes and other goodies if you have time, instead of buying pre-made ones. You can spookify your own treats with a bag of gummy worms and bugs.

9. Early Shopping: Plan for next year’s holiday bash and buy when 2012 costumes and decorations go on clearance, usually the day after All Hallows Eve. Items are often discounted up to 75 percent.

10. Thrift Stores: It’s a tip that bears repeating: Head to your local Salvation Army or Goodwill store to find creative costumes and decorations. A little makeup and a funky jacket makes for a good Lady Gaga. Throw together a bunch of mis-matched items and tell people you’re going as Project Runway! A little bit of creativity goes a long way.

11. Labeling: With multiple Halloween parties, school carnivals and hours of trick-or-treating, something—like part of your child’s costume or her trick-or-treat bag—is bound to go missing. Check out Mabels Labels, where you can stamp your stuff with adorable, Halloween style tags. Sometimes the easiest way to save is by not losing things to begin with!