I have never made a boo basket before in my life… and I am 37 years old with two beautiful girls.
I never really felt the need to. Or the pressure to.
But after a few years of doing the absolute bare minimum when it came to Halloween decorating, I decided to actually pull everything out this year. And both my 4-year-old and my 9-year-old were SO excited.
We’ve been listening to Halloween music, watching all the spooky-but-kid-appropriate movies, decorating the house, and just fully leaning into the season.
And weirdly? It has had such a big impact on the mood around our house.
It reminded me that we’re making memories every day over here.
Yes, the important mom stuff matters. Making sure they go to the dentist. Making sure the school has updated allergy paperwork and medicine. Feeding them healthy food. Getting everyone where they need to be.
But the fun stuff matters too. Which is how I somehow became the mom who makes boo baskets. And I think this might be something I keep doing.
Are they over the top? No.
Were the girls ridiculously excited to get them? Yes.
Did I have fun picking everything out? Also yes.
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You Do Not Need a Boo Basket to Have a Good Halloween
Before we go any further, you absolutely do not need to make boo baskets to have a fun Halloween or fall season.
This is not me adding another thing to your list. 😂
I have an entire Fall Family Bucket List with activities you can do at home, outings, things to bake, books, movies, and basically anything else you could possibly want for fall.
And you definitely do not need to do the entire list either.
It’s there for ideas. Pick a few things that sound fun and call it good.
My Rules for Making Boo Baskets
Before I started shopping, I gave myself a few boundaries because I did not want these turning into another excuse to buy 47 tiny plastic Halloween things that would end up in a drawer by November.
1. Use Baskets You Already Have
I knew I had some $1 Halloween buckets from last year, so I went digging for those and reused them.
You do not need a special Halloween basket.
Use a regular basket. Use a bucket. Use something you already own and tie a ribbon around it if you want to make it feel festive.
Done.
2. Make Most of It Consumable
When I was shopping, I tried to focus mostly on things that would actually get used.
We are not landfill maxxing over here with every cute Halloween trinket Target has ever made. 😂
I grabbed a few of their favorite candies.
If I hadn’t just bought approximately $100 worth of Lush bath bombs, I probably would have thrown one of those in too.
Other easy ideas would be:
- hand sanitizer
- lip gloss
- hand cream
- bath bombs
- favorite snacks
- candy
Things they enjoy, use up, and then they’re gone.
Perfect.
3. Add a Book or Activity
For my youngest, I got Chicka Chicka Trick or Treat because she’s in Pre-K and loves the original Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
For my 9-year-old, I got a cute spooky coloring book.
She recently got back into coloring and picked out a Gilmore Girls coloring book the last time we were at Target, so I knew this would actually get used.
Target usually has a whole Halloween book section for kids, which makes this part really easy.
And honestly, it doesn’t even have to be Halloween-themed. A new book from a series they already love would be just as fun.
4. Pick One Bigger Item
When I say “big item,” I really mean one slightly splurgier gift.
For us, that was Little Sleepies Halloween bamboo pajamas.
They’re around $40 each, so they’re not cheap, but they’re also not some enormous gift.
I like them because the bamboo fabric is super soft and cool to the touch, which is especially nice in Las Vegas, and the girls love wearing them.
They also last FOREVER because they’re so stretchy.
So yes, Halloween is technically only one month, but they will absolutely be wearing these pajamas until they grow out of them.
Your bigger item could be anything that makes sense for your kid:
- a new video game
- Roblox money
- Minecraft coins
- a Squishmallow
- pajamas
- a toy they’ve been asking for
Just one fun thing that feels a little more special than the smaller items.
5. Add One Small Keepsake
The last thing I added was a little initial necklace for each girl.
They were on clearance for $10, which made them an easy addition, and I liked that they weren’t just another Halloween item.
They can wear them long after October is over.
How Much I Spent
I spent about $80 on Amazon ordering the pajamas and another $81 at Target for everything else.
So roughly $80 per basket.
That is not nothing.
But for our budget, it felt like a good amount for what I included.
And yours absolutely does not need to cost that much.
You could make a really cute boo basket with things you already have, a few pieces of candy, a book, and one little surprise.
The point is not how much you spend.
The Whole Point Is Making the Season Feel Special
Again, you do not need to make a boo basket if you do not want to.
But if you do, use what you already have for the basket, add a few consumable things, maybe a book, and one bigger gift if it fits your budget.
Use what I bought as inspiration, not a checklist.
Because the whole point is just making memories with your kids while you can.
Making the holidays feel a little extra special.
Maybe that means themed baskets for every occasion.
Maybe it means watching spooky movies on the couch.
Maybe it means decorating the house.
Maybe it means baking cookies together.
It all counts.
Love ya!
Jules