When you think about the most expensive holiday to celebrate, the one that comes to mind is probably Christmas. But the costs for Halloween can add up quickly, too.
From decorations to costumes and, of course, candy, you might spend a lot more than you realize. While you can find decorations on the cheap at stores like The Dollar Tree and you can make your own costumes, candy is a different story.
No one wants to be the house that gives out off-brand sweets, so stocking up on the good stuff is a must — and it doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. There are plenty of ways to save money on the candy you’ll be handing out to all the little ghosts and goblins in your neighborhood.
First, try to wait as long as you can to buy candy. Obviously, the best time to buy Halloween candy is after Halloween when the prices drop significantly, but that won’t work when it comes to trick-or-treating.
So just hold out for as long as possible. I have used this trick the past few years and can attest that the closer it gets to Halloween, the more sales you’ll find. Stores will begin discounting it as trick-or-treating nears, so keep an eye on sales flyers and in-store signs.
Next, you could just skip candy altogether and give out little toys instead. You might not be the most popular house on the block, but you will save money.
On Amazon, you can get 156 little Halloween toys like rubber ducks, pencils and stickers for $16.95, or around 10 cents each.
Lastly, buy in bulk! The more candy you buy, the cheaper it is. This is true whether you’re going to Amazon, Sam’s Club or even your local grocery store.
Not only will you save money, but buying in bulk means you’ll probably have some leftovers for yourself!
Below is a list of the cheapest candy I was able to find as of the publication of this story. All candy included on the list comes in at 15 cents apiece or less, a personal rule I’ve set for myself when buying candy.
Huge Assorted Candy Party Mix—Amazon
This may surprise you, but shopping for candy on Amazon actually isn’t the cheapest route to take when buying Halloween candy. This assorted candy party mix box on Amazon is $35.99 for 250 pieces of candy, so each piece comes out to 14 cents.
It’s not the cheapest option, but you’ll still get a ton of candy with lots of variety (Skittles, Lifesavers, Sour Patch kids, etc.), so it’s not a bad deal if you get a lot of trick-or-treaters.
Dum Dum Original Assorted Flavors Lollipops—Target
You’ll get 28 Dum Dum lollipops for just $3.29 at Target, making them around 11 cents each and perfect if you don’t get many trick-or-treaters and don’t want mountains of leftover candy.
Coming in right at the 15-cent mark is this 150-count bag of M&Ms from Amazon. The total is $23.99 and includes milk chocolate, peanut butter and peanut M&Ms.
It’s included on the list because it does meet my 15-cent requirement, and what kid doesn’t love getting M&Ms?
This isn’t candy, but still counts as something to hand out to kids on the spookiest holiday. You’ll get 140 bags of mini pretzels from Sam’s Club for $14.98, or around 10 cents a bag.
<figcaption><cite class="op-vertical-below credits-overlay-new">Sam's Club
The best deal on chocolate candy I was able to find happens to be from Walmart. You can get a 400-count bag of Hershey’s assorted candy for $23.98, or around 5 cents each. Included in the bag are favorites like Reese’s, Kit Kats, Twizzlers and more.
The second-best deal I was able to find overall is from Target. You’ll get 200 pieces in this bag that has LaffyTaffy, Nerds and more. At $9.99, it breaks down to just 4 cents apiece.
Sam’s Club comes in as the winner of the best deal I was able to find, though prices could change at any moment on any of the candies listed. This Brach’s Kiddie Mix comes with 600 pieces for $19.98, or just 3 cents each!
Keep in mind you will need a Sam’s Club membership to purchase it, so if you don’t have one, pick up the Mixups bag mentioned above.
<figcaption><cite class="op-vertical-below credits-overlay-new">Sam's Club
Remember, if you wait until Halloween gets closer, you may be able to find the candy you want at even lower prices than it is now.
What is your favorite Halloween candy?
The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
<figcaption><cite class="op-vertical-below credits-overlay-new">Getty Images | Spencer Platt
<figcaption><cite class="op-vertical-below credits-overlay-new">Getty Images | Scott Olson
<figcaption><cite class="op-vertical-below credits-overlay-new">Amazon
<figcaption><cite class="op-vertical-below credits-overlay-new">Amazon
<figcaption><cite class="op-vertical-below credits-overlay-new">Target
<figcaption><cite class="op-vertical-below credits-overlay-new">Amazon
<figcaption><cite class="op-vertical-below credits-overlay-new">Amazon
<figcaption><cite class="op-vertical-below credits-overlay-new">Sam's Club
<figcaption><cite class="op-vertical-below credits-overlay-new">Walmart
<figcaption><cite class="op-vertical-below credits-overlay-new">Target
<figcaption><cite class="op-vertical-below credits-overlay-new">Sam's Club