Ways to Save Money on Halloween Costumes

Halloween is quickly approaching and that means that we all have costumes on our minds!

With 5 kids that means 5 costumes, plus candy for trick or treaters and oh, my it adds up quickly! As a kid my mom made all of my Halloween Costumes—elaborate costumes too I may add…my mom made me an awesome Philly Phanatic costume when I was in 3^rd or 4^th grade.

I’m not creative enough  to make costumes from scratch however,  so I need to get creative with how I spend my money for Halloween costumes and I am always looking for easy ways to save on costumes while still allowing my kids to dress as the character they want.

My kids haven’t decided yet what they want to be yet but we will be finalizing those details soon so that I can start looking for the best prices on items needed for the costumes.



 Here are some easy ways to save when it comes to Halloween fun:

1. Plan ahead for costumes—I have friends who buy costumes the day after Halloween for the following year. That way they get costumes at a great price and there is no stress in finding a costume at the last minute. Secondhand stores are also great places  to pick up costumes and since most are only won once for a few hours they are typically in great condition.
2. Attend a costume swap-The second weekend of October is National Costume Swap day and many communities will be hosting costumes swaps that day.  If your community isn’t hosting one then why not start your own or even just get together with your friends to swap. We all have costumes in our closets and attics that we would love to get rid of.
3. Think outside of the box—rather than buying a full costume from a store try and see if you can buy pieces and recreate the look on your own. For instance, have a child who wants to be Bob the Builder? Just dress them in jeans and a flannel shirt and buy a toy toolbelt and you have the look you want with out the expense of buying a costume.
4. If your child absolutely has their heart set on a specific costume, make sure to start looking for it in early October. By looking for it early in the season you can make sure that you are getting the best price. Compare prices between the different retailers, check out the prices on Amazon and make sure to look for coupons to use.
5. Finally, buying the trick or treat candy can really add up. My suggestion is to buy it gradually and stock up before Halloween night.    Buy a few bags each week in the weeks leading up to Halloween and put it away for the big night, that way it isn't a dent in your budget and you are all set and ready to go with no stress.

Megan Galko is the owner of NEPA MOM.com and lives in Northeast Pa with her husband, 5 children and one dog.  She writes about Tips and Tricks to Make Life Easier for Busy Families. Make sure to check out her website www.nepamom.com or follow her on Facebook www.facebook.com/nepamom or  Twitter.