You Had Us at Glow-in-the-Dark Fangs: 9 Cheap Halloween Candy Alternatives

Q: What are some safe non-candy Halloween alternatives for trick-or-treaters?

Safe non-candy options include glow-in-the-dark bracelets and vampire teeth, plastic rings, stickers, pencils, small toys like spinning tops or figurines, and soft foam items that pose minimal choking risk for older kids.

Q: How much can I expect to spend per item on cheap Halloween alternatives?

Many dollar-store finds range from about 1 to 15 cents per item when bought in bulk packs; typical per-item costs in the article ranged from roughly 1.3 cents to about 12.5 cents.

Q: Where can I buy affordable non-candy Halloween giveaways?

Discount retailers such as Dollar Tree and Dollar General commonly stock inexpensive Halloween-themed toys, stickers, bracelets, and novelty items suitable for handing out to trick-or-treaters.

Q: Are non-candy treats appropriate for all ages?

Most non-candy treats are enjoyed by younger children and school-age kids, but items with small parts may not be suitable for toddlers; check age recommendations and avoid choking hazards for very young children.

Q: Can leftover non-candy treats be reused next year?

Yes — unlike perishable candy, many inexpensive trinkets, bracelets, and toys store well and can be saved for future Halloweens as long as they’re kept clean and dry.

Published by

Clara

Jan 12

Cheap Halloween Candy Alternatives - 9 Budget Ideas

Don’t let November 1 wind up being a day of regret.

Having a mountain of leftover Halloween candy because you guessed too high for trick-or-treaters leads to two outcomes. You’ll either consume far too many mini candy bars or you’ll eventually toss dozens in the trash — and waste money.

Why not do something different this year? Plenty of treats to hand out to trick-or-treaters don’t involve chocolate, artificial fruit flavors or sugar.

I recently stopped by two discount stores in my area — Dollar Tree and Dollar General — to hunt for Halloween giveaways that aren’t candy. I wound up spending just $9 (plus tax) for 213 individual items.

The nicest thing about these giveaways is anything left over can be saved for next year.

9 Halloween Candy Substitutes

1. Glow-in-the-Dark Vampire Teeth

A person holds glow in the dark vampire teeth over Halloween trinkets. — (*All the better to bite you with, my dear — and nobody will get hurt from glow-in-the-dark vampire teeth, which cost $1 for 10 at Dollar General. Sharon Steinmann/The Penny Hoarder*)

No matter what a child’s costume is, it can usually be improved with a pair of vampire fangs. The glow-in-the-dark feature is an extra perk.

Price: 10 for $1 at Dollar General.

Cost breakdown: 10 cents per set of teeth.

2. Sparkly Foam Stickers

Glittery foam Halloween-themed stickers on concrete. — (*Glittery, colorful foam stickers in Halloween shapes are 75 for $1 at Dollar General and make an inexpensive alternative to candy for trick-or-treaters. Sharon Steinmann/The Penny Hoarder*)

These shimmery foam stickers are substantial enough to hand one out to each trick-or-treater. They’re cut into skulls, bats, jack-o’-lanterns and other familiar Halloween figures.

Price: 75 for $1 at Dollar General.

Cost breakdown: 1.3 cents per sticker.

3. Mummy Army Figurines

2-inch-tall plastic mummy army figurines are a good candy alternative for Halloween. — (*This army of 2-inch-tall plastic mummy figurines, 10 for $1 at Dollar General, can act as a candy substitute when little goblins and ghouls come calling. Sharon Steinmann/The Penny Hoarder*)

These 2-inch plastic figures are the Halloween counterpart to toy Army men. Ideal for imaginary battles of the undead.

Price: 10 for $1 at Dollar General.

Cost breakdown: 10 cents per figurine.

4. Halloween Pencils

No. 2 Halloween pencils photographed on concrete. — (*No. 2 Halloween pencils will almost make taking a test (does anyone use them for tests anymore?) fun. You can buy 10 for $1 at Dollar General. Sharon Steinmann/The Penny Hoarder*)

No. 2 pencils are timeless. These “treats” are useful, and the themed designs keep them playful.

Price: 10 for $1 at Dollar General.

Cost breakdown: 10 cents per pencil.

5. Sticker Boxes

Small boxes that contain Frankenstein, skeletons and black cats in sticker form are 18 for $1 at Dollar Tree. — (You can’t go wrong with stickers — and you can’t buy Halloween treats for much less. These Frankenstein, skeleton and black-cat stickers are 18 for $1 at Dollar Tree. Sharon Steinmann/The Penny Hoarder)

Frankenstein, skeletons and black cats — in sticker form — await trick-or-treaters when they open these tiny packages. Each little box holds eight Halloween stickers.

Price: 18 for $1 at Dollar Tree.

Cost breakdown: 5.5 cents per sticker box

6. Creepy Creatures

Four-inch glow-in-the-dark centipedes are 12 for $1 at Dollar Tree. — (*These 4-inch-long glow-in-the-dark centipedes, 12 for $1 at Dollar Tree, will make wee trick-or-treaters say “eek.” Sharon Steinmann/The Penny Hoarder*)

The kids already get plenty of sweets on Halloween. Give them a playful scare with these 4-inch glow-in-the-dark centipedes.

Cost: 12 for $1 at Dollar Tree.

Price breakdown: 8.3 cents per bug.

7. Halloween Spinning Tops

Halloween Spinning Tops are 8 for $1 at Dollar Tree. — (*Halloween-themed spinning tops, eight for $1 at Dollar Tree, will amuse the neighborhood kids. Sharon Steinmann/The Penny Hoarder*)

With all the sugar kids ingest on Oct. 31, they’ll be buzzing with energy. These holiday-themed tops will spin right alongside them.

Price: 8 for $1 at Dollar Tree.

Cost breakdown: 12.5 cents per spinning top

8. Rings

Plastic Halloween rings shaped like spiders, skulls and bats are 50 for $1 at Dollar Tree. — (*Plastic rings shaped like spiders, skulls and bats are 50 for $1 at Dollar Tree and add an extra touch of the holiday to Halloween costumes. Sharon Steinmann/The Penny Hoarder*)

Let trick-or-treaters show off their Halloween spirit with plastic rings molded as spiders, skulls and bats. Let the kids choose their favorite.

Price: 50 for $1 at Dollar Tree.

Cost breakdown: 2 cents per ring.

9. Glow-in-the-Dark Bracelets

Glow-in-the-Dark Bracelets are 20 for $1 at Dollar Tree and a good alternative to Halloween candy. — (*Trick-or-treaters will be more visible wearing glow-in-the-dark bracelets on Halloween. They’re affordable, too: $1 for 20 at Dollar Tree. Sharon Steinmann/The Penny Hoarder*)

These bands will literally brighten your trick-or-treaters’ night by adding neon flair to costumes. Wait until someone rings your bell before snapping and shaking the bands to make them glow.

Price: 20 for $1 at Dollar Tree.

Cost breakdown: 5 cents per bracelet.

Maria Lopez is a senior writer at Savinly. She still has candy from Easter that she needs to discard.