Happy Halloween! Don't Ghost the Gift Economy

Halloween is one of the most playful holidays of the year, filled with creativity, imagination, and community connection. But between store-bought outfits and single-use decorations, it can also get spooky for both our wallets and the planet.

Frightfully Good Finds

Every October, costumes and decorations creep out of attics and garages and onto neighbors’ porches. Here are the top holiday items shared on Buy Nothing:

Have a Buy Nothing Halloween

Here’s how you can use the Buy Nothing app to build a magical, sustainable, and budget-friendly Halloween with your friends and neighbors this year.

1. Ask for the perfect costume or supplies

Looking for something specific? Ask a few weeks early. Chances are a neighbor’s kid was a dinosaur or a superhero last year, and that costume is sitting in their closet ready to be gratefully offloaded. Going the DIY route instead? Put out an Ask for cardboard boxes, paint, fabric scraps, or old wire hangers to bring that Godzilla costume to life.

2. Host a costume-share party

Set up a rack or table in a front yard, driveway, or local park where families can drop off outgrown costumes and browse for new-to-them outfits. Kids get to try on different looks, adults find fun party attire, and neighbors catch up over cider before the big night.

3. Haunt your house with shared decor

Every October, incredible materials circulate from neighbor to neighbor: skeleton props, fog machines, string lights, fake cobwebs, pumpkin carving tools. Come shop Buy Nothing before buying new.

Nothing scarier than a landfill of old costumes

Every Buy Nothing story is made possible thanks to community members like you. Your subscription helps power the app that keeps costumes and decor moving from porch to porch.  Will you consider supporting us?

Yes, I'll Support Buy Nothing

With gratitude,
The Buy Nothing Team