FREETOWN-PORT RICO, La. (KATC) – With Halloween just weeks away, families are getting into the spirit – picking out costumes, planning parties and decking out their homes with spooky decorations. But with the rising cost of holiday celebrations, some are wondering: Is there a way to cut costs and still stay creative?
Homemade Halloween
In Lafayette's Freetown neighborhood, a local store offers a festive and affordable solution. Deuxième Vie Creative – French for “Second Life Creative” – helps residents create unique Halloween decorations while saving money and keeping waste out of landfills.
“People come every day and just give away what they have,” said Lousea Louvierre, who works at the store. “I mean, people just drop everything.”
The store collects donated craft supplies, fabrics, paints and other materials that would otherwise be thrown away. It's part of a growing effort to promote sustainability through art – and for Louvierre, Halloween is the perfect time to take advantage of it all.
KATC News
“Last night I made some pumpkins that have eyeballs on the inside,” Louvierre said. “I only bought skeletons from a big box store. The rest are second-hand products from here. It's well received in the neighborhood. It's a lot of fun.”
KATC News
And the savings can be significant. Louvierre said she spent about $90 on skeleton props from a retailer, but only $15 on everything else — a blackboard, chalk, chairs, chicken wire — all from Deuxième Vie.
“When you're frugal, I feel like you spend a lot less,” she said.
This Halloween, it's perhaps more important than ever to be budget-conscious. Holiday spending nationwide is expected to reach a record $13.1 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. Costumes and decorations are at the top of the spending list – closely followed by sweets.
For families looking to celebrate without breaking the bank, a little skill could be the answer.
“It’s more personal, it’s more unique,” Louvierre added. “You’re going to buy something [from a big box store] and it will be kind of just generic. I think when we plan things ourselves we can just be more creative.”
Whether you're putting together a costume from scratch or turning discarded materials into spooky decorations, Halloween 2025 could be the perfect time to try something new – and give old items a second life.
If you are interested in visiting Deuxième Vie Creative or attending one of the many Halloween craft workshops, you can find the store at 205 Stewart Street in Lafayette or click here.