Halloween for the Broke UVic Student

Money has always been tight for students, but we all have felt the effects of the rising cost of living in Victoria—whether it’s rent, groceries, or gas, things are EXPENSIVE these days.

Now more than ever, Halloween (or any holiday for that matter) shouldn’t have to break the bank. So, here are my tips for the broke UVic student to enjoy Halloween on a budget:

1. Check out free events happening on campus!

You can get in the Halloween spirit without ever having to leave the UVic campus. The UVSS is putting on multiple free events, such as: a free Halloween costume party (19+) on October 28th from 7pm-11:30pm, free trick or treating in the SUB on October 31st from 11am-3pm, and giveaways via their Instagram (@uvss and @thesub.yyj) until October 31st.

2. Create an event at home: host pumpkin carving or a movie night

Watching a scary movie or doing pumpkin carving from home is a cheap way to get in the spooky spirit. Pumpkins can be purchased relatively cheap at local places like Mitchell’s Farm and Galey Farms (idea for another event!), and if you already have a streaming service subscription, horror and Halloween movies are at your fingertips! Gather your friends for the fun, and you can even make it a potluck so everyone contributes to the snacks.

Photo by David Menidrey via Unsplash

3. Head to a thrift store for your Halloween costume, or go exploring in your own closet

Photo by Tandem X Visuals via Unsplash

Avoiding big box stores for Halloween costumes is one of the best ways to save money on Halloween—the average costume at Spirit of Halloween is upwards of $70!

For the main clothing pieces of your costume, head to your local Salvation Army and even your own closet, and you might be surprised with what creative pieces you’ll find.

Got that shirt in the back of your dresser you’ve never worn? Maybe you can cover it in fake blood. If you want your costume to be more realistic, stick to buying cheaper items like accessories and makeup to complete your look.

4. Be gentle on yourself when it comes to FOMO

FOMO (fear of missing out) is real and valid when it seems like every person on the planet is having more fun on Halloween than you are, but remember that a lot of what you see on social media doesn’t tell the whole story.

You have many more Halloweens ahead of you, and keeping it chill for one year is no big deal in the grand scheme of things! Just because everyone is headed to big, expensive Halloween nights out doesn’t mean you have to as well. You might even consider turning off your phone or restricting social media for the weekend.

I hope these tips helped—Happy Halloween!

Photo by Kenny Eliason via Unsplash