Halloween is hands down one of my favorite times to decorate — the spooky lights, the glowing pumpkins, and the fun little DIYs that bring the yard to life (literally, in this case). But let’s be real… Halloween decor can add up fast. This year, I challenged myself to decorate our home without breaking the bank, and it turned out to be one of my favorite setups yet.
Armed with a few Dollar Tree finds, a couple of genius ideas from Temu, and some leftover supplies from past projects, I created a budget-friendly Halloween display that looks way more expensive than it actually was.
🕯️ DIY Light-Up Pumpkins
This might just be my new go-to trick for fall decorating — and it’s so easy it almost feels like cheating.
You’ll need:
- Plastic pumpkin buckets (the kind kids use for trick-or-treating — I grabbed mine at Walmart for $1.97 I bought 4 so I spent $7.88)
- Small solar lights (I hound out the Homedepot I bought ones I would like to actually use after Halloween I got a set of 4 for $27.97)
How to make them:
- Pop off the handle from each pumpkin bucket.
- Remove the top cap from your solar light — you just want the light portion.
- Stick the light right into the bucket’s opening. The solar panel should face up so it can charge during the day.
- Once it gets dark, your pumpkins will magically glow all night long — no batteries, no cords!
👻 DIY Ghosts Using a Tomato Cage
If you’ve ever wanted a ghostly figure that’s more cute than creepy (and budget-friendly), this one’s for you!
You’ll need:
- A tomato cage (I got 2 for $2.97)
- Battery-powered string lights
- An old white sheet (that you don’t mind cutting up)
- A white pumpkin bucket (or foam ball I used the white pumpkin buckets from Walmart for $1.97 and I got 2)
- Black vinyl (or construction paper) for the eyes and mouth
How to make it:
- Flip your tomato cage upside down — the pointed ends will form the top of your ghost’s “head.”
- Wrap the string lights around the cage, weaving them up and down so it glows from within.
- Drape the sheet over the cage. Let it pool naturally around the bottom.
- Attach your pumpkin bucket on top (I used the white pumpkin face from Dollar Tree) — this becomes your ghost’s head.
- Cut out spooky eyes and a mouth from black vinyl and stick them onto the sheet or bucket.
Tip: if you are using vinyl and don’t have a heat press a flat iron worked just fine for me! 😅
🕸️ Dollar Tree Finds & My Temu Treasure
I have to give a huge shoutout to Dollar Tree — honestly, the best place for cheap décor that doesn’t look cheap once it’s set up. From spooky lanterns, toumb stones, mini solar lanterns light up skull heads and hands. Spent a total of $49.06 at the Dollar Tree.
And then there’s my favorite find of the season — a massive spider web from Temu for only $4.47 so I bought 2 for $12.56
💀 The Skeleton in the Planter
Okay, this one might not be “budget essential,” but it was definitely a must-have. I spotted a 5ft skeleton while shopping on Temu for the cheapest i seen it $23.35 and instantly knew I needed it….
Now he’s set up in one of my big planter pots that my husband wanted but haven’t used yet!I tapped some old party lights on him and put in the bubble machine I got on Temu for $12.40 because apparently, he’s taking a spooky bath! It’s funny, lighthearted, and has become everyone’s favorite part of the yard setup.
🕯️ Final Touches
I set my self a budget to be under $200 for the vision I had in mind and ended up only spending a total of $146.96! Between the solar-lit pumpkins, glowing ghosts, and my bubbly skeleton friend, the whole yard came together better than I could’ve imagined — all without spending a fortune.
Decorating for Halloween doesn’t have to mean going all out at the big-box stores. Sometimes, all it takes is a little creativity, a trip to the Dollar Tree, and a couple of clever DIYs. Because at the end of the day, Halloween isn’t about how much you spend — it’s about how much fun you have creating the magic. 🎃✨
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