Trendy costumes for the whole brood. Candy and treats galore for the keiki goodie bags. Decorations for the spooky celebrations. Total cost for Halloween this year?

That's some scary stuff.

Consumers are expected to spend an average of $56.31 on Halloween this year, down from $66.54 last year, according to the National Retail Federation's 2009 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.

But it's possible for the entire family to celebrate the holiday on a reasonable budget — much less than $50.

"The key is to be creative and use your imagination," said Dan Pence, production supervisor at Savers Inc., a thrift department store in Kalihi.

Here are some low-cost to no-cost ideas for costumes, decorations and Halloween activities for a spooktacular holiday on the cheap.

DRESSED TO THRILL

These costumes for the whole family won't cost you an arm and a leg:

• Turn to your mommy (or daddy) network — family, friends, co-workers — to see if you could borrow or swap costumes and accessories for you and your little monsters. Just to be fair, offer them items from your Halloweens' past that they may be interested in using too.

• Dig into your own closets or shop at thrift stores, such as Savers and Goodwill, to piece together creative looks for less.

"With our used selection and a lot of stuff you have in your closet, the ideas you can come up with are limitless There's no reason not to have an awesome costume for under $10," Pence said.

Some ideas for dad, mom and the kids, courtesy of Savers Inc. and Goodwill Industries of Hawaii Inc.:

Zombie — Find old clothes and tear them to shreds. Rub dirt all over and add fake blood.

Witch — Start with a black dress or a long black skirt and black shirt. Add a black witch's hat and use green face paint. Carry a black cat stuffed animal and a broom for props.

Sports star — Use a sports uniform or favorite jersey. Carry around the corresponding sports equipment (ball, bat, etc.) or a trophy as props.

Jellyfish — Find a clear or solid colored umbrella. Cut strips of bubble wrap, streamers out of crepe paper and cellophane. Glue the bubble wrap and streamers to each point on the umbrella. Wear any solid-color clothing. When you walk, move the umbrella up and down to flow just like a jellyfish.

• You can find tons of other do-it-yourself costume ideas online, from a mad scientist to a rock star, by searching "do-it-yourself Halloween costumes." Check out www.familyfun.go.com and www.parents.com.

DREADFUL DECOR

Get in the spirit of the holiday by completely surrounding yourself with all things Halloween-y. Here are a few home decorations you can make for nearly nothing:

• Rummage through your home for no-cost decorating ideas. Just use a lot of imagination. Pull apart cotton balls for cobwebs. Cut up old, stained white bed sheets and drape them over ghostly stuffed animals or dolls. Use black and orange construction paper to make bats, Jack-o'-lanterns and spiders for spooky wall hangings. The petrifying possibilities are endless.

• Search "Halloween coloring pages" online for a variety of free Halloween-themed print outs. It's a great way to get the kids involved with the decorating: Have them color the pages, then hang them around the house — on walls, doors and windows.

• Go online for more inexpensive craft ideas. At www.savers.com, there are more than a dozen ideas for cheap and chic Halloween decor, including "Perfect Pumpkin Ornaments," "Ghoulish Goblets" and "Forgotten Flowers Centerpiece." (See our video above to learn how to make the centerpiece.)

To make Savers' "Dolls of the Living Dead" decor, gather fashion dolls (light-skinned dolls with blond hair work best), white spray paint or hair spray paint, and black pen or fine-tipped permanent marker. Clean undressed dolls with a damp cloth and dry. Spray light coats all over the dolls, including their hair, and dry between coats. Use the pen to decorate their faces: dark lips, eye liner, thin eyebrows — get creative. Tease hair and spray more. Display as a group on doll stands or sitting down on a shelf or table for a freaky-fun look.

FREAKY FAMILY FUN

There are a bevy of budget-friendly boo fests around town. Among the free family events:

• Many public libraries statewide will host a Halloween event this week. Kahuku (293-8935), for example, welcomes children at 6:30 tonight for a fun face makeup activity. And Kapolei (693-7050) will host a costume contest, games and more at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow. For details, call your local library or visit the Hawaii State Public Library System Web site at www.librarieshawaii.org for branch information.

• Haunted Village, complete with graveyard, lighted displays and flying ghosts, 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, Windward Community College. 235-7321.

• On Halloween night, many shopping malls — including Ala Moana Center (955-9517), Pearlridge Center (488-0981), and Waikele Premium Outlets (676-5656) — offer a safe alternative for trick-or-treaters with participating businesses handing out goodies to costumed keiki and other activities geared toward little ones. Call shopping centers or visit their Web sites for times and other details.

• 22nd annual Treat Street, this year themed "Dinos After Dark" with a costume contest, candy excavation pit and trick-or-treating down a colorful make-believe street, 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 31, Bishop Museum. 847-3511.

• Kailua Keiki Fun Fest, with games, prize drawings, music, bounce house, hot dogs, chili and rice, and beverages — all free, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 31, Kailua Assembly of God church grounds on 669 Iliäina St. 349-5577.