10 Ways Families Can Save with Low Budget Halloween Costumes

Halloween is on the horizon. It’s time to find the perfect Halloween costume. You might be cringing at that thought because dressing up an entire family for Halloween can really be budget-busting. The truth is that families really don’t have to spend a fortune to have amazing costumes. Here are 10 ways families can save on their Halloween costumes:

1. Visit a local thrift store.

   Brainstorm some costume ideas before you go to your local thrift store. When you get there, keep an open mind and take your time to carefully sift thru the racks of clothing and accessories. Inspiration could strike at any time. What can you repurpose? Which items can you put together to create a memorable costume? Could you combine two completely different costumes into one? At this time of the year, resale stores have everything they’re offering for Halloween arranged in a nice display. You might get lucky and find a rack within that seasonal display of pre-owned Halloween costumes at a deep discount.

2. Organize a costume swap.

   Did you know that National Costume Swap Day is on the second Saturday in October? Celebrate by gathering your friends, family, and neighbors for a costume swap. The only requirement is that everyone bring a Halloween costume that they are ready to part with or are willing to lend.

3. Buy a gently worn costume.

   Many people wear their Halloween costumes once and then put them up for sale in an online marketplace. These costumes are often in excellent condition. Try searching your favorite online marketplace for whatever you want to be. There’s a very good chance that you’ll find the perfect costume for much less than retail.

4. Raid your own closet.

   You might be sitting on a treasure trove of clothing and accessories that could be repurposed. If you’re holding on to any sports attire, uniforms, vintage clothing, or even old costumes, consider reimagining them into a clever Halloween costume.

5. It’s time to get crafty.

   Halloween is a great time for a DIY project. If you’re handy with a needle, thread, scissors or even a glue gun, you can create a one-of-a-kind Halloween costume. Decide on an idea and then search your local fabric store, craft shop, or even your own house for any items that you could transform into a costume.

6. Grab a discount code.

   This is the time of the year when Halloween pop-up shops are set up for the season. Find out which ones are coming to a town near you. These stores usually have an online presence as well. If you’re ok with signing up for their mailing list, you could score a one time discount code. You could use that discount code towards the purchase of a new costume potentially saving up to 20% off the retail price.

7. Browse your local members only shopping club.

   Do you have a membership at any local shopping clubs? These member’s only clubs usually have a nice assortment of costumes for all ages at a reasonable price.

8. Sell your old Halloween costume.

   Are you ready to part ways with last year’s Halloween costume? If so, put it up for sale on an online marketplace. You can use any proceeds towards buying that new costume you’ve been eyeing.

9. Cash in your rewards.

   If you’ve earned any store loyalty points, why not use them towards the purchase of a new costume? If you’ve got credit card rewards, consider using them to cover your purchase. Depending on how many rewards you’ve got, your Halloween costume could end up costing much less than you thought.

10. Plan for next year.

    If you are a planner, you can save money on next year’s costume now. Shop a post-Halloween sale. Retailers need to clear out their seasonal goods. They’ll discount Halloween costumes at up to 75% off. It’s not impossible to have a super fun Halloween on the cheap.