#RealMoneyTalk: Halloween Spending Confessions

It’s the start of the spookiest time of year! When all the ghosts, ghouls, and goblins come out of the shadows. Ok not really, but it is the one time of year when you see your co-workers dress up as the cast of Stranger Things and fall into a small sugar coma from all of the free candy floating around. With all of the wacky festivities, Halloween can be very fun and a great time of year. However, all of that holiday cheer can $tart to add up really quick.

Costumes, parties, candy, Uber rides, and so much more, can drive your credit card wild this month. And your wallet certainly does not need the pinch right before the holidays! It can be easy to cave to peer pressure and “let” your friends drag you around to fun events, but this can quickly lead to overspending. And by the time November 1st rolls around, you may end up starring in your own financial horror film… #RealMoneyTalk that’s one movie we all want to skip!

Real real — it’s normal to have a few financial skeletons in our Halloween closet that we would like to forget and never think about again. But the great thing about the ghosts of our past mistakes is that they can scare us into shape now! So we’ve rounded up some of our favorite spending confessions to help you skip the financial spook. Caution ahead: terrifying Halloween spending tales lurk beyond this point.

Spending Queen

“Ok, Halloween is my favorite holiday. I often spend more money on my costumes – yes, plural – than I do on my fall wardrobe. Last year I had just moved to a new city and wanted to crush the Halloween costume game. So, I bought a wig ($25), a four-piece costume ($75), and boots ($35), on top of my spray tan ($33), professional makeup ($65) AND a concert ticket for the night of ($80). Hours before the concert I got the stomach flu…. So I spent a whopping $313 to stay home on Halloween and watch Hocus Pocus by myself.” – Lindsey D.

A Witches Broom Would Have Been Cheaper

“One Halloween, my friends dragged me out to a party in another city semi-close to where we lived. They were having a blast, but I was not feeling it and wanted to duck out early. But when I checked to see how much an Uber back home would cost me, I was SHOCKED to see that it would be $200 dollars…. Pro tip: always remember that on holidays there are big surge charges.” – Blake B.

Mr. Money Bags?

“When I’m out with friends I get very generous. Unfortunately for me, last Halloween I decided that it would be a good idea to extend this kindness to a costumed Mario, Luigi AND Princess Peach via many, many drinks – all in the name of blossoming new friendships during the holiday festivities. I was pretty mad when I checked my credit card transactions the next morning. #regrets” – Nic C.

Here Comes the Bill

“I had this really great idea to be the Bride of Frankenstein and wanted to be very authentic with my costume. So I went and bought a wedding gown (yes an actual wedding gown) that cost $400. To complete my authentic look, I then proceeded to destroy the dress by running it over with my car, tearing holes in it, the works. My costume looked amazing and exactly like the Bride of Frankenstein! I was so proud of my work, but everyone that night proceeded to ask me what store I got my costume from. They had no idea how much money I spent on my look. I was crushed. Even though my costume was fire, my bank account went up in flames, too.” – Katrina K.

A Million Little Goblins

“I live in a neighborhood where we get a ton of trick-or-treaters. No joke the entire local elementary school makes their way to my door like clockwork each Halloween, which means I have to buy pounds and pounds of candy. And candy is expensiveeeee. Each year I probably spend about $100  just on candy to ensure that I didn’t have an angry mob of 8 years olds at my door.” – Ben E.

Do any of these scenarios sound like you? (*Raises hand*) There is a way to avoid the financial coma — have the #RealMoneyTalk with your friends, and more importantly, with yourself. If you know that it’s not in your budget to go out to three events this month, tell your friends —“Hey I love ya, but my finances have to take priority right now.” And if you absolutely have to come up with a Halloween costume, pick a simple outfit. It’s ok to tell yourself that being able to afford food next week is more important than the holiday ‘gram. Once you are able to be honest with yourself, you can start to cleanse your financial spirits and remove those lingering ghosts. No seance required!

What’s your craziest Halloween spending confession? Tell us on social using #RealMoneyTalk!