Frugal Friends Podcast

Episode: Deinfluencing Halloween: Costumes, Candy, & Crazy Overconsumption

Hosts: Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni
Date: October 3, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of the Frugal Friends Podcast tackles the growing culture of Halloween overconsumption, especially around costumes, candy, and home/yard decor. Jen and Jill critique the social media-fueled trends that encourage overspending and excessive waste, and they offer practical, conscious, and fun alternatives to engage with the holiday meaningfully—preserving both your budget and the planet.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Surging Cost & Pressure of Halloween (01:30–04:00)

• Average Halloween Spend: Americans are expected to spend about $104 per person on the holiday.
• Earlier Shopping: 47% of consumers now shop before October, and social media pushes Halloween content as early as July.
• Quote:
  • “Americans are expected to spend an average of $104 per person on Halloween… very different from just 32% 10 years ago or 40% five years ago.” – Jen (01:31)

2. Social Media’s Role in Overconsumption (02:01–03:19)

• Halloween-themed content on platforms (especially TikTok) sparks FOMO through constant “hauls” and decor displays, fueling unnecessary purchases.
• Behind the Trends: Many viral videos are incentivized through affiliate links and ad revenue.
• Quote:
  • “Halloween is fun, but, like, candy over consumption can leave you broke and with diabetes. Jill, you changed the line.” – Jen (02:45)
  • “It was medically inaccurate anyways.” – Jill (03:09)

3. The Environmental Cost: Waste & Landfills (06:40–08:39)

• Halloween’s Plastic Waste: Around 2,000 tons annually, equivalent to 18 blue whales, mostly from costumes, decorations, and candy wrappers.
• Long-Term Impact: Most costume materials (83%) are non-recyclable plastics (polyester takes up to 200 years to break down).
• Quote:
  • “Halloween generates approximately 2,000 tons of plastic waste each year. That is comparable to the weight of 18 blue whales.” – Jen (07:31)

4. Viral Trend #1: Costumes (10:05–20:27)

• Discussion: Costumes are fun but have become a symbol of waste and identity performance.
• “Cool Girl Costume” trends on TikTok push buying/returning multiple outfits in pursuit of being unique.
• Thrifting, re-wearing, and swapping costumes are championed as responsible alternatives.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “As adults, we can have one costume for a decade… Like, I am Shrek every year for Halloween. That sounds cool.” – Jen (15:34)
  • “83% of Halloween costumes are made from non-recyclable plastics like polyester… which takes 20 to 200 years to decompose.” – Jen (17:39)
• Tips: Reuse, thrift, borrow, or use what you have. Make it a tradition—not a trend—to have a “signature” costume.

5. Viral Trend #2: Home Decor & ‘90s Nostalgia’ (20:31–30:22)

• Trend: Each year a themed aesthetic dominates (e.g., Barbie pink, now '90s nostalgia); influencers post huge decor hauls to drive affiliate sales.
• Critique: The “authentic” 90s Halloween look is often manufactured and not based on real childhood memories.
• Quote:
  • “I actually don’t remember any of this in the 90s… half the people making this content were not alive then!” – Jen (24:32)
• Solution:
  • Skip the decor if it’s not your style, or thrift/diy if you want to participate.
  • Embrace single, meaningful pieces—for example, one thrifted black cat or skull as the centerpiece each year.
• Memorable Moment:
  • “I’m becoming a big proponent of making the event the decoration.” – Jen (29:41)

6. Viral Trend #3: Lawn Decor & Giant Skeletons (30:25–39:50)

• Observation: Professional-level yard displays, massive spiders/skeletons, often seen as “minimalist” or the new norm.
• Waste Factor: Most of this decor is short-lived unless it’s invested in as a durable, multi-year item.
• Quote:
  • “We are buying giant skeletons. $300 giant skeletons. Which is $300 for the skeleton and endless possibilities for the accessories.” – Jen (34:05)
• Balancing Fun and Responsibility: Participate in neighborhood or community events mindfully. Choose one lawn piece and use it ritualistically to create lasting memories.
• Tip: Avoid “keeping up” with viral trends; focus on 1–2 meaningful traditions for your family each season.

7. Practical Takeaways: How to “De-Influence” Halloween

• General Principles:
  • Reuse, borrow, thrift, and repurpose as much as possible.
  • Transform sentimental rituals into lasting traditions.
  • Support kids' and pets' costumes especially if they’re used year-round for play.
  • Encourage younger people to resist social pressure to “one-up” costumes or decor, especially if they can’t afford it.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Social Media Overload:

  • “You watch one video for longer than three seconds—the algorithm says I can keep this person longer if I show them more videos like this.” – Jen (26:16)

• Costume Identity Humor:

  • “All I did was take my RunDisney shirts and I was just… a runner. That was my costume!” – Jen (17:12)
  • “Costumes should be funny.” – Jen (17:31)

• Empowering Listeners:

  • “Use what you already have. For the majority of these costume ideas, guaranteed, you already have what you need.” – Jill (19:15)

• Dealing with Trends:

  • “Creators are incentivized to create more of this content because they’re earning money from it.” – Jen (26:16)

• On Ritual and Meaning:

  • “The fewer things that we have, the more special they become.” – Jen (39:50)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------- |---------------- | | Average Halloween spending | 01:30–02:00 | | Social media trends in October | 02:01–03:19 | | Plastic/waste impact | 07:11–08:39 | | Costume trends & critiques | 10:05–20:27 | | Home decor & ‘90s nostalgia | 20:31–30:22 | | Lawn decor & giant skeletons | 30:25–39:50 | | Practical takeaways | 38:52–39:50 | | Lightning Roundup | 45:44–48:43 |

Host Reflections & Personal Stories

• Jen’s Adventure Anecdote (04:00–06:35): Ties her dog's outdoor “adventure” into the idea of planning for adventure through fiscal responsibility, ultimately pitching their meal planner.
• Personal Costume Experiences: Jill loves the creative process and obscure concepts (her favorite was “the sound the Cranberries make in ‘Zombie’”), while Jen supports long-term costume use and maximizing fun for kids.
  • “Any costume that takes about 10 minutes to describe is a winner.” – Jen (48:08)
• Parenting Tip: Support and encourage kids to have fun with costumes—ideally ones that get multiple uses, e.g., for play throughout the year.

Community Connection: Bill of the Week (40:06–43:33)

Story highlight:

• Listener Emily from Ohio celebrates finding her first-ever brand new chair—negotiated down to $500 from $1,000 and paid in cash.
• Jen and Jill commend the strategy: taking time, having a spending plan, negotiating price, and ask Emily how she’ll use the savings.

Lightning Roundup: Favorite Halloween Memories (45:44–48:43)

• Jill: Celebrates recent adult Halloweens, especially a trip to New Orleans and her “sound of the Cranberries” costume.
• Jen: Treasures memories of dressing up her kids—favorite costumes include Spiderman and a tiny lumberjack.

Final Takeaways

• Halloween should be fun but can easily become an exercise in waste and financial regret if you follow social media pressure.
• Instead, choose traditions and rituals that are meaningful, sustainable, and budget-friendly—whether that means picking one thrifted or DIY decor, making children’s costumes an adventure, or just not engaging with the trend cycle.
• “Buy less, keep longer, prioritize memory.” – Jill (39:00)

To share your own frugal win or bill of the week, visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill.