The only thing more expensive than the massive quantities of candy you’re handing out to Trick or Treaters on Halloween might well be your own children’s costumes. Retailers have perfected the art of selling cheap-o one-piece costumes in a whole host of famous characters. The kind of thing that attracts the eyes of every kid in the store and makes them say, “Mommy! I want to be <fill in character name here> for Halloween!” And of course, if you don’t give in and pay $40 for a swath of colorful polyester right there on the spot, you’re the devil incarnate.
Instead, try telling your kids they can be whatever they want and you’ll get their costumes for them somewhere else. After all, there’s no reason to shell out the big bucks for something too flimsy to wear in October and too size specific to be worn ever, ever again. There is a happy median where Junior gets to be Spider-man and Mommy gets to save a few bucks.
There are three main ways that you can save yourself from a huge credit card bill this Halloween.
#1 – Think second-hand or auction options.
Most kids costumes are the same as last year’s (not all but most), so visit your local thrift store and capitalize on last season’s bought-new-then-resold-after-one-use gems. Let’s face it, you’re probably going to do the same thing after your child wears this costume once. Cut down on needless cost, give money to a good cause by shopping at the Salvation Army or Good Will, and your kid’s Halloween will be a memorable one. It’s a win-win.
Online auction sites like eBay often allow wholesalers to unload lots of items bought in bulk, including children’s Halloween costumes. Save big bucks this way and still get something new for your child to wear.
#2 – Make one yourself.
As a child, I always preferred to have a home-made costume for Halloween. It was 100% unique and only made for me. And often times, I got to help in the making of said unique costume—even better for a craft-happy child like myself. If you have the ability to sew, mangle pipe cleaners, or wield a glue gun, consider a home-made specialty costume for your child.
You can always buy patterns for his or her favorite characters, or even model the costume after one you find in the store or online. Or be really creative and just invent one together. When a friend’s daughter wanted to be a “princess fairy” for Halloween, she got creative piecing together different basics and made her own costume… probably saving a few bucks along the way. Shop at Joann.com or A.C. Moore to get great discount craft supplies and start building your costumes from scratch!
3 – Shop online with coupon codes.
These days, there’s no real need to go store to store until you find the perfect costume for each one of your children. Instead, find out what they want to be, then hit the search engines with a vengeance. ShopGala’s Halloween coupon codes will connect you with some of the best Halloween deals available, from costumes to decorations. What’s more, the internet is loaded with specialty Halloween stores and warehouses, so the prices online are most likely slashed from major retailer’s figures to begin with. Compound discounts with coupons and your Halloween 2010 will be the most affordable one yet!
