Affordable boo baskets for your boos

Creating boo baskets for your loved ones doesn’t have to be expensive. Photo by Candice Tran.

By Candice Tran

Since when did we start gift-giving for Halloween? Wasn’t that a Christmas thing? 

Boo baskets were popularized through TikToks and currently, my For You page is filled with videos of people making these gift baskets. 

What are boo baskets? In celebration of the spooky season, people construct baskets of goodies (preferably Halloween or fall-themed)  to give to their friends, family or significant others. 

Unfortunately, for many of us watching these TikToks, we can’t relate. 

Many users spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on creating their boo baskets, which is just not realistic for the millions of viewers watching, who might want some inspiration for making their own baskets.

There are definitely ways to make your basket more affordable, whether you’re on a budget or looking for a casual exchange of gifts.

Two of my friends and I attempted to create affordable boo baskets for each other. We shopped for one basket each. In the end, all of us spent no more than $30. Here’s a breakdown of what we bought:

My basket – given to Andrea

The boo basket I made consists of Halloween-themed goods and cosmetics. Photo by Candice Tran.

Bought at Michael’s:

  • Black bucket – $2.49
  • Purple paper confetti – $6 (shared between the three baskets so ~$2 per person)

Bought at Target:

  • Kinetic Sand Dino X Cavate mystery box – $4.99
  • Jack-o-lantern clear cup – $3
  • Elf makeup brush – $5
  • Scunci hair elastics – $4.99
  • Ghost puffy stickers – $3.49

Bought at Dollar Tree:

  • Trolli gummies (berry flavored) – $1.25
  • Nerds rope – $1.25

Julie’s basket – given to me

The boo basket Julie made has fun toys, stickers and essentials. Photo by Candice Tran.

Bought at Michael’s:

  • Black bucket – $2.49
  • Purple paper confetti – $2

Bought at Target:

  • Mini Verse Harry Potter Make It Mini Potions – $9.99
  • Halloween stickers – $3.49
  • Scunci hair ties – $4.99
  • Rosy Lips Vaseline – $2.99

Bought at Dollar Tree:

  • Gummy Dinosaur – $1.25
  • Spongebob Food Figures blind bag – $1.25

Andrea’s basket – given to Julie

The boo basket Andrea made includes candy, cute socks and necessities. Photo by Candice Tran.

Bought at Michael’s:

  • Black bucket – $2.49
  • Purple paper confetti – $2

Bought at Target:

  • Aquaphor – $7
  • Mini Verse Make It Mini Lifestyle – $
  • Stay Cozy chicken socks – $7
  • Peach rings – $2
  • Clorox wipes – $2
  • Nerds Gummy Clusters – $3

Bought at Walgreens:

  • Sports tape – $2

Conclusion

Spending around $30 could still be a lot, but it’s really up to you on how much you want to spend. These small gifts are just some ideas that could help with making a boo basket affordable. 

At the end of the day though, the person who you’re giving this boo basket would appreciate whatever you give them. Play into your recipients’ interests and be thoughtful and creative! It’s the thought and effort that counts. Happy gifting!