10 Ways to Save Big Money on Halloween Costumes

Start looking for those halloween costumes now!  You probably aren’t even thinking about Halloween yet, but it’s right around the corner.

I’ve always thought it was crazy to spend a lot of money on costumes for kids. They only need to wear it for a few hours on one or possibly two days.

If you want to learn how to save money on Halloween costumes, there are many things you can do.  Here are a few ideas:

1. Start in your own closet:  Do you have a fancy hat? How about fun boots? Remember, those store-bought costumes never fit perfectly, so DIY Halloween costumes don’t have to be tailored exactly to your child.

Look at the closets in your home and pick out some unique clothes and accessories, then start brainstorming!  One year my son was a cowboy.  He wore his own jeans, my old cowboy boots, a handkerchief around his neck, and a dollar store cowboy hat.  He looked adorable!

Look at the closets in your home and pick out some unique clothes and accessories, then start brainstorming!  One year my son was a cowboy.  He wore his own jeans, my old cowboy boots, a handkerchief around his neck, and a dollar store cowboy hat.  He looked adorable!

2. Look around your house: Plenty of everyday items can be the start of an excellent costume. Who doesn’t have a cardboard box laying around? A quick Google search for Cardboard box Halloween Costumes returned plenty of doable ideas. Quilt batting can become clouds, and, of course, sheets make excellent ghosts.

3. Get to your local thrift stores and Goodwill now! The rush for Halloween costumes will begin in the first few weeks of October, so you can beat other people to the best Halloween costume deals! Be sure to note your store’s discount days. Try to head there on a good day to save even more cash on your ideas!

4. Look at outfits you already have: Did your little girl wear a princess costume to a party or a theme park over the last year? Can you add something to make it special for Halloween? One year my daughter wore her princess dress. I gave her a “fancy hairstyle” with the curling iron and finished it off with spray sparkles (1.99 at the drug store) and she was so excited!

5. Work with the “blank canvases” : A black sweat outfit can easily be turned into a kittycat or a skeleton, a white or pink leotard becomes an adorable bunny or mouse. Pillowcases are truly blank canvases to turn your child into a crayon, a lipstick or a variety of other items!

6. Check Freecycle and Craigslist for free or super-cheap costumes. Many people are digging into the depths of their closets to go through what they have for the Halloween season. There are bound to be people getting rid of items that simply won’t work for them.

7. Look on Ebay! This works best if you’re not searching for something with the word costume“. Those items tend to sell for very high amounts, and there’s no need to spend that much money! Think about your ideal costume and the best accessories for it. Set your dollar limits and get searching on Ebay. You could end up with the best item for pennies!

8. Host a costume swap: Believe me, most parents are in the same boat as you. There are many moms who would be happy to trade costumes just to give their kids something “new to them.” Think about moms in your playgroup or church to plant the seed for a costume swap party!

9. Break out the sewing machine: If you have a sewing machine, fabric and craft stores always have simple patterns for Halloween costumes. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Have you seen the construction on most Halloween costumes sold at retail stores? I’m not one to regularly use my sewing machine, but even I think I could stitch up seams better than the ones I see on the racks at WalMart!

10. Keep your costumes from year to year: If you have an old costume tucked away somewhere, can your younger child wear it? Can you offer to trade it with a friend?

Bonus Advice: Shop for next year’s Halloween costumes just after Halloween this year. You’ll find fabulous discounts on the nicest costumes! One year I stumbled upon a rack of plush toddler and child costumes at WalMart for $1 each! You can bet I bought one of each one so we were stocked for all my kids for the next year (and then some!).

There is no reason for Halloween to break the bank.  Keep it simple and have a lot of fun! For extra money-saving advice, check out How to Have a Fun and Frugal Halloween on a Budget!

We’ve got Halloween fever! Here are a few other fun Halloween articles:

• Check out over 700 FREE Pumpkin carving patterns!
• Here are 13 DIY Halloween costumes made with tutus!
• Check out these 15 DIY Baby Halloween costumes (with several toddlers ideas, too!).
• Not into DIY? That’s ok 🙂 Here are 20 adorable baby Halloween costumes under $20!
• Take care of all your Halloween party foods with fun, festive and easy ideas!

Readers: How do YOU save money on Halloween costumes?

Photo Credit: Meg Sexton Photography