Halloween is my favorite night of the year. Ask anyone who knows me -- I started decorating in September. 

What I don't love about Halloween is how it's managed to get wrapped up in the season of overconsumption. There's always pressure to buy giant bags of candy at the store and spend too much on a trendy prepackaged costume you'll only wear for one night. 

I'm not trying to be a Halloween Scrooge, but half the fun of Halloween is putting your creativity to the test by bringing your favorite characters to life, ideally through do-it-yourself and other thrifty means. 

Social media is jumping on the "anti-spend" bandwagon this Halloween, with influencers like Krystalynn Gier (@krystslynngier) sharing tips about how she plans not to spend a dime. 

There's no shame in buying a costume from the store. But if you're trying to cut back and save some money this Halloween like I am, try shopping your closet first. 

Don't let Halloween break the bank. Try this instead