It’s that spooky time of the year when the ghosts and ghouls arrive to invade your wallet for that perfect Halloween costume. Whether it be for a school party, trick-or-treating, or an adult’s night out, we all know how expensive Halloween costumes can be. In 2018, Americans spent about 9 Billion Dollars on everything related to Halloween, which accounts for almost $90 per person in the U.S.! Boy if I could have a fraction of that in my bank account, I would be dancing away like the next Disney Princess!
So…let’s find ways to save money on Halloween costumes to keep some of those dollars back in our wallets! Here are the eight best tips to save on this years’ Halloween costume:
Plan Costumes Ahead of Time
Figure out who or what you want to be well ahead of time. This will give you ample time to plan and strategize what items you may need to create your perfect costume. This will also allow you to not feel rushed if you are planning a Do It Yourself (DIY) costume.
Make a List
Writing down a list of everything you need for the awesome costumes you’ll have this year will help you start the planning process. You may be surprised at what accessories you already have at home (Bingo! No need to spend money there!), or what you may be able to make very cheap.
To fill in the gaps for what you still may need for your costume, look for inspiration online and examples of how others were able to pull together a similar costume. People are creative and you may be able to find a more frugal way to create your disguise that you hadn’t thought of. Maybe you need a wig to create the perfect Cruella Deville, but the red gloves you have on hand…anyone thinking Prom!!
Set a Budget
And stick to it!! Remember this is one night of the year. You don’t want to have regret days, weeks, or months later as you sweat trying to pay off the bills. There are so many wonderful costumes that can be so cheap and budget-friendly. Let your creative juices flow and be realistic about what you can afford to spend on your costumes.
Borrow or Trade Costumes
There is nothing wrong with borrowing a costume from someone else, especially if it is a costume that is rare and hard to find. Many years ago, my daughter was Ariel and I thought it would be so cute to have my infant son be Nemo. Of course, infant Nemo costumes were a thing of the past and was not affordable when I did find it (I was not paying over $100 on eBay for the costume – happy to sell one at that price though – anyone thinking Side Hustle??).
Just by talking to another preschool mom one day, explaining my sorrows of not being able to find Nemo, she delightfully told me she had the costume (talk about luck) and was willing to lend it to me. I will forever be grateful as I have the cutest pictures and memories. Remember one day, you may be able to return the favor! And even better…that was the conversation that turned an acquaintance into a friend!
Sell Last Years’ Costumes
If you are wondering, “How can I save money on my Halloween costumes?” don’t you think someone else is too! You can be their key to finding savings on their costume. Don’t hesitate to list the old costumes that you won’t use anymore on eBay, Facebook, garage sales, or any other source you may be familiar with.
The key to getting the most bang for your buck…sell right before Halloween (Start late Aug, Early September). Yes, that does mean you may have to pack this years’ costumes away for the next 10 months, but if you have the room, trust me it is worth it! You will be able to sell it for more heading into the next Halloween season than any other time of the year. There have been times I have been able to sell our used costumes for close to what we paid for them (and sometimes more!) the next year after we used them or many years later after we grew out of them!
Use Coupons and Sales
Coupons and sales are your friends! As I am writing this, Target currently has a $10 off $50 on anything in the Halloween shop. That’s a 20% discount automatically. That doesn’t even count if you have a paper coupon, or if there are Target Circle offers as well. This could be an opportunity for stacking savings here. Try your best to get those 20 % savings even higher!
Make Your Own Costume
I’ll tell you, some of the best costumes I have seen both when I was a kid and as an adult has been DIY costumes and most of the time people found the items around the house. The most recent one was someone dressed up as the KFC Chicken Bucket – Genius!!! To top it off, she said she pulled together her costume that day. I wish I could be that creative on the spot.
Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
Those last-minute trips to the Halloween store, Target, or any other retailer can put a dent in your pocket. This is going to be one of those places it would not be wise to spend extra money in my opinion. To top off your sorrow of having to spend more, it may be slim pickings and now you are spending money on a costume you didn’t want in the first place.
There are so many ideas that will fit any budget when planning your perfect Halloween Costume. Use this as a challenge to see how much you can save this year and celebrate the savings. Start early, be creative, do some research, and most importantly have fun creating the perfect costume!
Take a look at these additional resources for more savings tips on Halloween!
- 9 Best Tips and Tricks to Save on Halloween Candy
- How to Celebrate Halloween on a Budget