No tricks, just treats: How to handle Halloween without scaring your budget

Halloween is just a few weeks away, and with rising costs, it can feel hard to embrace the season while staying true to your budget.

While Halloween is just one day, the fun often starts weeks early. Neighbors begin decorating their homes, pumpkin patches open for visits and festive events pop up everywhere. Between decorations, costumes, candy and other festivities, it’s easy for expenses to add up quickly. That’s why we’ve put together a few ways to make the most of Halloween without giving your wallet a scare:

1. Skip the chocolate – The price of chocolate has risen significantly due to cocoa shortages. Consider alternatives like gummies, lollipops and other non-chocolate treats to save money. When buying candy, think about how many trick-or-treaters you had last year to avoid overbuying.
2. Take a pumpkin walk – Some Halloween festivities can be pricey. Skip the expensive entry fees and take a walk around your neighborhood to admire pumpkins and other Halloween decorations. It’s a free and fun way to enjoy the season with family and friends.
3. Shop budget-friendly costumes – Costumes are a Halloween staple, but you don’t need to buy an expensive one every year. Try repurposing items your kids already own or shop at local thrift stores.

Smart savings tip: You can find clearance costumes after Halloween and save big for next year’s celebrations.

4. Save with CashBack+ – Through /accounts/digital-services/mycashbackCashBack+ in /accounts/digital-services/digital-bankingDigital Banking¹, you can purchase gift cards using funds from your Abound account for Halloween essentials at retailers like Target, Walmart and hundreds more and earn cash back, up to 20%².

Getting started is easy:

• Log in to Digital Banking.
• Scroll to the bottom of your Dashboard to find the CashBack+ screen.
• Select Get started.
• Choose your gift card and amount.
• Access your digital gift card via email or your CashBack+ account.
• Enjoy cash back deposited into your CashBack+ wallet within 24 hours.

With a little creativity and smart planning, you can enjoy the spooky season without the stress of overspending.