Every year, Halloween seems to get a little less spooky and a little more pricey. What used to be a simple night of carving pumpkins, dressing up in makeshift costumes, and sharing candy with friends has turned into a full-blown financial investment. Between rising prices for decorations, candy, and costumes, Halloween has transformed from a carefree tradition into a costly production—and quite frankly, it’s taking the fun away.

According to the National Research Fund (NRF), Halloween spending in the U.S. is expected to hit a record $13.1 billion this year, with the average person spending over $114 just to celebrate. That’s not just inflation; it’s a sign that Halloween has become another commercialized holiday that pressures people to spend more than they should. When a single night of fun costs as much as a week’s worth of groceries, something’s wrong. 

A Consolidated Credit report supports this idea even further. It shows that Americans are spending more than ever on costumes, decorations, and candy—categories that used to be cheap and simple. Costumes alone now are worth $4.3 billion in consumer spending. Even candy, the heart of trick-or-treating, has become a luxury item thanks to skyrocketing cacao prices and supply chain issues. What used to be a total of $8 candy haul, easily now costs double. 

And it’s not just the numbers that prove it. A recent PWC consumer study found that many families are not treating Halloween like a “mini holiday” anymore; they’re instead spending hundreds of dollars to create Instagram-worthy decorations and elaborate family costumes. According to PWC, parents with young children are spending an average of $445. That’s more than what some families spend on Christmas gifts. The pressure to “keep up” with neighbors and social media trends turns what should be a lighthearted celebration into a financial burden. 

The truth is, all this spending doesn’t necessarily make Halloween more enjoyable; it often makes it more stressful. When you’re worried about affording the perfect costume or competing with the over-the-top house down the street, it’s hard to actually enjoy the moment. The charm of Halloween has always been about creativity, like turning a cardboard box into a robot costume or crafting ghosts out of old bedsheets. But now, creativity is being replaced by convenience, and fun is being replaced by finances. 

Of course, we should continue to celebrate Halloween. But maybe it’s time to take a step back and remind ourselves what made it special in the first place. Halloween doesn’t have to be a $400 production. It can simply be a night where community, imagination, and a few good scares get to fly free.