🎃 The Halloween debt trap: how far people go for one night of fun

Key takeaways

• 1 in 6  couldn’t afford to celebrate Halloween at all this year.
   
• 1 in 10 went into debt just to cover candy, costumes, or parties.
   
• Half didn’t save anything in advance for the holiday.
   
• More than 1 in 3 parents lied to their kids about not affording costumes or candy.
   
• 1 in 4 needed until their next paycheck to recover financially after Halloween.
   

The scariest part of Halloween is the receipt

Halloween might look like harmless escapism – a few costumes, candy, maybe a party or two – but behind the decorations is a quiet financial strain. Retailers predict record spending this year, yet not everyone feels festive. When Casinos Analyzer surveyed 1,500 Americans, the results revealed a story that’s less about celebration and more about survival.

Nearly four in ten (39%) said their Halloween spending stayed about the same as last year, while almost three in ten (29%) admitted they spent even more. Only 15% actually cut back. And for one in six Americans (17%), there was no celebration at all – they simply couldn’t afford it.

Despite that, few plan ahead. Almost half (49%) of respondents said they didn’t save any money in advance, relying instead on last-minute purchases or paychecks that were already stretched thin. About one in four (23%) said they’d managed to save up months earlier, and another 16% confessed to quietly stockpiling candy to spread out the cost. It’s a snapshot of how even small joys now require strategy – or sacrifice.

Bills, debt, and denial

For some, the price of fun meant letting something else slide. More than four in ten (44%) respondents admitted they’d skipped or delayed at least one essential bill just to afford Halloween – rent, groceries, utilities. Around 15% said they’d postponed rent or mortgage payments, another 15% put off paying for electricity or internet, and the same share cut into their grocery budget. The idea of “treating yourself” takes on a darker edge when the treat comes at the cost of food or heat.

The financial juggling doesn’t always end there. One in ten (9%) people said they’d maxed out a credit card to cover Halloween expenses, while nearly as many took out a payday or personal loan. 12% borrowed from friends or family, and another 9% used Buy Now, Pay Later. For a single night of fun, people are quietly piling on debt that outlasts the candy.

What we splurge on and what we skip

When asked what eats up the most money, three categories tied for the top spot: candy (28%), costumes (27%), and nights out (27%). Home décor trailed behind, but not by much. Halloween, it turns out, is less about scaring others and more about looking like you’re part of the fun. The pressure to show participation – to host, to post, to prove you joined in – keeps people spending even when they know they shouldn’t.

Still, generosity has its limits. One in three (33%) admitted they’ve skipped buying candy for trick-or-treaters because money was too tight. Most of them felt guilty about it, while a smaller group – roughly one in five (23%) – said they didn’t care. There’s something quietly human about that mix of guilt and resignation; we care what neighbors think, but sometimes you just can’t afford to keep up appearances.

When asked what they’d cut first if they had to save money, two in five (38%) said they’d skip parties or nights out. Another 21% would drop costumes, and just under a quarter (23%) would scale back on décor. Candy was the last thing anyone wanted to give up. Even when money’s tight, that small ritual – a bag of sweets – feels non-negotiable.

The financial hangover

The emotional cost lingers long after the pumpkins are gone. More than half (55%) of respondents said they regret how much they spend on Halloween at least sometimes, and one in six (17%) said they feel that regret every single year. The night ends quickly; the credit card balance doesn’t.

For almost half of Americans, the financial recovery lasts well beyond October. One in four (25%) said they need until their next paycheck to recover from Halloween, and another one in five (20%) said they’re still struggling by the time the holiday season begins. Halloween, for many, marks the unofficial start of what one respondent simply called “debt season.”

Parents feel it the most

Families experience that pressure on an even deeper level. Two-thirds (65%) of respondents were parents, and more than one in three (37%) admitted they often feel embarrassed when they can’t afford costumes, candy, or decorations for their kids. Another 29% said they sometimes feel that way. The shame isn’t about parenting itself – it’s about the impossible expectation to give your children the version of joy everyone else seems to afford.

A third of parents confessed to lying to their kids about not buying a costume or candy because it wasn’t in the budget – telling them something was “sold out” instead. Another 23% said they’ve at least thought about doing the same. It’s a small, protective lie, meant to preserve the magic of the holiday while quietly carrying the burden of reality.

And then there’s the practical creativity. About one in three (32%) parents said they’ve taken their kids to trick-or-treat at more houses – or even gone around twice – to collect enough candy without having to buy extra. It’s resourceful, if nothing else. Half (51%) of parents also admitted to sneaking candy from their kids’ stash later that night, which might be the only truly harmless act of indulgence in the entire survey.

The real cost of Halloween

Halloween is supposed to be lighthearted – a night to laugh at what scares us. But this year’s numbers show something heavier. The holiday has quietly become a mirror for how people manage money, stress, and appearances. When 44% of people are skipping bills and 45% can’t recover until their next paycheck, it’s not just about costumes anymore.

Maybe that’s the haunting truth: the scariest part of Halloween isn’t ghosts or monsters – it’s realizing how far people will stretch just to feel a little normal.

Methodology

To create this study, researchers from Casinos Analyzer surveyed 1,500 participants of all genders, aged 21 and over.