Hallowe'en party bargains

Hallowe'en is just around the corner. So if you're planning to hold a party, here's how you can celebrate on a shoestring...

How time does fly! I can’t believe that this weekend marks Hallowe’en once again which means all those annoying little children will be knocking at my door again asking for sweets. Yippee! (If there was a Scrooge for Hallowe’en, I would personify it.)

However, if, unlike me, you’re a big fan of Hallowe’en, you might be contemplating throwing a party to celebrate. So here’s how to do just that – without blowing the budget!

Decorations

First thing’s first – if you’re hosting a party, you need to get the decor right.

Wilkinson is a good place to start as its shelves are stacked high with brilliant deals. For example, you can pick up anything from this marvellous Glow in the dark skeleton for £1.48 to this Haunted House sign for £1.68.

Alternatively, head over to trusty old Woolworths (online) where you can decorate your home with this groovy Hallowe’en changing colour pumpkin for just £1.99. And make things a little more spooky with this Hallowe’en bat string decoration for £2.49 or this spider string for £2.99.

And as always, Poundland is well worth a visit because you can pick up a range of items for – you’ve guessed it - £1! Balloons are definitely a must-have for a party and here, you can grab a 20 pack of Hallowe’en balloons for your coin. And why not scare someone with this giant spider, let your friends (perhaps small ones) relax in this inflatable pumpkin chair, and get the lighting down to a tee with these skull candles?

Finally, no Hallowe’en party would be complete without cobwebs, and at M&S you can pick up a bag of cobwebs for £1! And all Hallowe’en items are 3-for-2. Spooky.

Music and sound effects

Create the perfect atmosphere with the right sound effects! At Wilkinson, you can get hold of this Hallowe’en Party Album for just £1.98 or this one has over an hour of scary songs and spooky sound effects for £3.98.

Alternatively, Poundland is offering a Sound of horror CD for £1, or why not spook your friends by creating eerie witch laughter at the press of a button, also for £1?

And if you’re really on a budget, you can also download some scary sounds at Hallowe’en Horror Sounds absolutely free! Aaaaaaaaaah!

Tableware

I'd better move on to that all important tableware before you get too scared and run away.

First of all, adorn your table with this fabulous Cobweb table cloth which is £1 at Poundland. And while you’re there, you can also pick up a pack of this rather ghastly handprint design paper tableware. Your £1 will get you 40 paper cups, or 12 plates and 12 napkins.

Complete the look with these 8 skeleton straws and this Hallowe’en table confetti – both of which are again, a mere £1.

Alternatively, at Woolworths, this Hallowe’en pumpkin party pack will cost you £3.99 for 20 napkins, eight plates, eight cups, and one plastic table cover. You can also pick up a 24 piece pack of cutlery for £1.60 and choose from a range of colours.

If you’re looking for something a tad more sophisticated (?), you could also get your hands on these Creepy critters goblets for £1.49 each or these tumblers for 75p each, again at Woolworths.

And if you want to splurge a little, this Hallowe’en inflatable skeleton cooler might come in handy for storing your drinks. You can pick it up for £15.99 at Woolworths (may not fit on the table though).

Finally, I just love this Hallowe’en witch tea light holder for £5 at M&S.

Costumes

If you’re truly celebrating Hallowe’en then you’re bound to want to dress up. And with these great bargains, there’s no excuse!

For the children, this girls’ purple witch dress, this skeleton outfit and this witches’ hat and purse are £1 each at Poundland. And ASDA is offering a range of items, such as hats and wigs, from just £3.

Or if you’re prepared to spend a little more, at M&S, you can pick up this spider witch outfit or this Dracula outfit for £10 each.

And for the adults, what about this fantastic adult witch outfit for £20 or this vampire outfit for £15? Again, there’s a 3 for 2 offer on these items.

Sainsbury’s is also offering several adult costumes for £17 and kids’ costumes from £6.

If your budget can stretch even further, Woolworths is offering this vampire bat adult costume for £34.99 and this spider skeleton child’s costume for £13.99.

Alternatively, if you’re feeling brave, you could try making your own costumes. Check out Activity Village which is packed full of ideas!

Food and recipes

And now, the final touch – food.

All of the major supermarkets are packed full of Hallowe’en food bargains right now. For example, at Tesco, you can pick up these Fiendish Fancies for £1, or these freaky fairy cakes also for £1.

And at Sainsbury’s, why not try out these mini gingerbread bats for £1.49 or these mini iced doughnuts for £1? This witches’ brew pumpkin soup is also just £2.

Meanwhile, at ASDA, you can pick up these mini rolls for £1, a small pumpkin for 87p, and these eerie eyed chocolate clusters for £1.

But of course, nothing beats freshly made homemade food. And you can easily do this if you’re armed with the BBC Good Food website. Here, you’ll find easy recipes for freaky fingers, witches’ brew, eyeball pasta, wizard’s hat pasties, pumpkin cake, spooky spider cakes, and plenty more!

Happy Hallowe’en!

All deals were correct at time of writing but all offers are subject to change.

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