Everybody remembers going trick or treating on Halloween. Halloween used to be a day full of fun scares and stuffing your face full of candy, but these days, it’s become more of a cash-grab than anything else. Many people aren’t handing out candy this year because of the unreasonable prices. Decorations are losing their spooky charm, and so are the costumes. It’s sad, but Halloween as we know it is about to die.

2025’s Costumes Win a lot of Raspberry Awards

The thrill and excitement of finding a Halloween costume is what it’s all about. Whether you make your own or go shopping at Spirit Halloween, part of the fun is dressing up how you want to get candy. Creating a cool costume on a budget helps save money, but this year’s spread seems grim, for lack of a better word. 

While looking for costume ideas, I came across clips on TikTok…and, let’s just say, I’m shell shocked. Instead of creative and cute ideas, I saw this: the most lame and no effort spent idea of all time.

Looks like this year’s costumes are going to consist of Pinterest board outfits with animal ears. You may be asking, “how is this a problem?” Well, if you’ve seen how girls in elementary school dress these days, you should get it. They already wear outfits that aren’t appropriate for them at their age, why should they be encouraged to wear the exact same thing for a Halloween costume? 

Another thing, these new costumes don’t resemble the character they’re trying to be at all. Other people won’t have any idea what you’re supposed to be because there are no identifying features on a plain spaghetti strap top and shorts. You can’t just wear animal ears and call it a day.

I understand that kids are kids and that they won’t want to look scary all the time, but Halloween is supposed to be a day of self expression. Wearing a silly costume might seem embarrassing, but it doesn’t really matter. People aren’t going to judge you for dressing in a costume on Halloween. It just feels like these are made by people who’ve lost the point of the entire holiday.

Frightening…Prices?

One of the best parts of Halloween is going trick or treating, right? But, it looks like many parents are skipping out on handing out candy this year. 

Due to the rising cost of cocoa and inflation, buying candy in bulk has never been more money draining. 

People in 2025 are expected to spend over $100 dollars on candy alone. Ever since 2019, the price of Halloween candy has increased by 78%.  Just buying a bag of 100 pieces (which everyone knows isn’t enough) will now cost you $16.39, when you could have gotten the same amount for $9.19 in 2020.

This inflation of prices hits middle and lower class households especially hard. Just imagine being a parent and not being able to afford celebrating a holiday with your family because you’re expected to pay over $200 for everything. 

With all the money spent on costumes, candy, and decorations for Halloween, there won’t be any green left in the bank to even afford Christmas. Children this year will wake up and race to the Christmas tree just to find nothing under it because Halloween made their parents go broke.

Because of these prices, many users on TikTok have stated that they’re “turning their porch lights off this year”. Since less people are handing out candy, that means there’s less for the kids to do, and that’s just sad. 

The tradition of trick or treating is already dying out because of the higher crime rates and safety risks of the modern era, so why should money be what sends it to its doom?

Pink Is the New Halloween, I Guess

Like Christmas, Halloween is a holiday that prides itself on its decorations. You’ll see spooky inflatables, creepy animatronics, and cool lights in many yards near the 31. But, the scare factor of said decorations has gone down considerably. If you expect to see a Nightmare Before Christmas vibe, you’ll be surprised when you see the Barbie movie vibe instead.

2025 gave rise to a “new” Halloween: Pink-O-Ween. Instead of the iconic green, purple, orange, or black decor, everything is pink. Be ready to walk into a Micheal’s and be transported to the new Monster High/Barbie crossover nobody asked for. Pink disco ball ghosts with bows and pepto bismol Jack-O-Lanterns now flood the aisles, which overshadow the rest of the classic decorations people like me are stoked for.

I understand that we all have our own preferences and opinions, but this just feels kind of cringe. Lots of signs have blatant Mean Girls references and some are just embarrassing (like “dead but cute” and “come in, dead inside”).  I don’t really understand what the marketing and design teams behind these pieces of decor were thinking, but they’re not in line with the times at all.

My apologies if I seem too opinionated, but I just don’t want to unknowingly walk into a all pink haunted house expecting to be scared and instead walking out disappointed and covered unicorn sparkles.

TL,DR

In short, I’m scared about the future of Halloween. What used to be a night of creepy creatures, tasty candy, and fun times has become a watered down pink cash grab. 

This year isn’t sounding great because of the things I’ve mentioned above. But, you can still have a great time.

Regardless of whatever I have to say, it is what you make of it that counts. If you can’t handle the crazy prizes, enjoy a scary movie night at home, or spend time with your family. Money doesn’t buy happiness, after all.