Sugar and Spice: the fashion blog for the stylish bargain hunter!: How to... have a super scary Halloween without the super scary credit card bill

As Halloween approaches this weekend, it is probably time - or maybe even a little late - to start thinking about your costume and the party you're either off to or intend to host. But this time of year can start to get very expensive, very quickly so let me present my guide to "a recessionista's Halloween":

The costume doesn't have to excessively expensive. Remember, chances are, you'll wear it for one night in one year and then never again:

1. The Ghost. For a ghoul on the cheap, raid your mum's laundry basket for an old sheet. Cut two eye holes and you're done.

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2. The Corpse Bride. Remember that old prom dress, bridesmaid's dress or even wedding dress you have and never wear? Don the dress with some white face paint and you'll instantly become a character fit for a Tim Burton nightmare.

3. Mummy. Another option for that old sheet you have. Simply, rip it into strips and wrap around and pin with safety pins. I would advise wearing a pair of white leggings and a white tee under this as there is likely to be some "slippage". Maybe also have someone on hand to feed you, if you have tied your arms in too!

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4. The Witch. Every girl has an LBD in her wardrobe. Team it with some cobweb/fishnet tights and a cheap hat from your local gift store and you're ready to fly away on a broom.

If you are planning on hosting a Halloween party the question is, how to do this without breaking the bank:

1. Keep it simple. Go old fashioned and organise some traditional Halloween party games around the house for guests to partake in, like apple bobbing. And maybe even end the evening with ghost stories around a log fire, or in a room lit solely by candlelight. Even better if you can get your hands on a pumpkin or two and have the room lit from tealights in these.

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2. A murder mystery dinner party. If you're looking for something a little different - and perhaps more sophisticated - than a traditional Halloween party, why not grab a murder mystery dinner party? You can buy a boxset for under a tenner - like this murder mystery dinner party game from Amazon - and the rest of fairly straight forward.

3. If spending time in the house, isn't your thing, why not go trick-or-treating in your street or apartment block? Too old, I hear you cry? Rubbish!

4. Of course, if you plan to do none of the above and simply have a quiet night in, do make sure that you have got some treats in, in case someone else on your street or in your block decides not to stay in! The supermarkets always have offers on big bags of sweets - and if you don't use them all at Halloween, you can keep them for Christmas.

If you are hosting a Halloween party, I'm sure you'll be keen to make sure that you serve suitable Halloween fare for your guests:

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1. Apples. Great for bobbing but also eating. As they are, in a pie, or as toffee apples. Buy them ready made or make your own. For an easy peasy recipe, check out this one at Cupcakes and Cashmere.

2. Pumpkins. If you're already buying pumpkins to decorate your house at Halloween, you might as well use the flesh from inside them. Feed your guests on pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup or spiced pumpkin cake.