While Halloween today entails a lot of expenses with all the pumpkin shopping, costume-hunting, treats, and all the parties, not being able to afford a big celebration doesn’t mean you have to skip Halloween this year – or altogether for that matter. Believe it or not, there are still so many ways to enjoy the spookiest time of the year – without spooking out your budget. In fact, Halloween has become so commercialized recently that an old-fashioned, simple celebration may just be the most one-of-a-kind, coolest — you’ll ever have.

Re-use or Borrow Costumes. There is no written rule that says you have to have a new Halloween costume every year. You can re-use your old costume or borrow from a friend and still enjoy the annual event without having to spend anything. But if you really want to look different each year but just can’t afford the high cost of costumes (and other Halloween stuff for that matter), squeeze out your creative juices and alter your old costume to look like a new one. Shorten it, add beads, decorate, or whatever you can think of, be creative and transform your old Halloween garb into a new, totally unique costume that will knock your friends’ socks off. Better yet, be a total artist and make a complete one-of-a-kind costume of your own from blankets, old clothes, and other things you can find in your home. What you’ll have is a Halloween costume like no other, and the best part is, you didn’t have to spend anything!

Couch Potato Scream. Just because it’s Halloween doesn’t mean you have to go out and party with your friends. Stock up on the scariest movies you know and celebrate Halloween the way it should be celebrated: screaming your guts out! Cozy up with your family, friends or hubby, load up on popcorn and other goodies, and have the best Halloween ever screaming your heart out without breaking your wallet. But if you really want to go out on this special day, head to the theater with your friends and watch the latest scariest movie in town. You may have to spend on the tickets and refreshments, but it would still be cheaper compared to buying costumes and other Halloween brouhaha.

Scary Stories. Camp out with your friends and spend the night playing scary games like the classic ouija board or make it more interesting and exchange true-to-life scary stories. Turn the lights out, build a bonfire, cover yourselves in blanket, arm yourselves with flashlights, and have the spookiest, best Halloween ever the simple, affordable way.

Trick or Treat? It has become a tradition to hand out treats to children who knock on your doors and shout “Trick or Treat!” But there’s no written rule that you have to feed the whole neighborhood. Especially when you’re under budget, you can just buy enough candies and other treats according to how much you can afford and distribute it enough to accommodate all or at least a sufficient number of kids. You don’t have to feel guilty if you can’t give everyone a treat. What matters is still being in the spirit despite the budget cut.

Pumpkin-Carving Contest. Try something different but still a lot of fun by inviting your friends over to your house and host a pumpkin-carving contest. The prize? Roasted seeds from the pumpkins you carved! What you’ll have is a memorable and awesome party – on a budget!

Still want something even cheaper but still get to enjoy Halloween? Sit out on your porch with a bag of goodies and watch everyone in your neighborhood go about with their Halloween celebration and you may have a more enjoyable time than you can imagine. It would be like watching a movie in real time, right in the comfort of your own home.

If you have even more innovative, fun, yet affordable ways to enjoy Halloween, go ahead and execute them! You don’t have to ride with the commercialism of Halloween and other special occasions seem to have caught on. Be your own adventurous spirit this spooky season and scream your heart out to a good time without scaring your budget.

Boo!