• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Deal Seeking Mom

  • Unsophisticook
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Top Amazon Deals
  • All Amazon Deals
  • Other Deals
  • Free Stuff
  • Recipes

5 Ways to Save on Halloween Costumes

September 30, 2008 by Tara Kuczykowski 33 Comments

Wee Westie Watching for Tricksters
photo credit: Randy Son Of Robert

Halloween is right around the corner! And you know what that means – your little ones will be clamoring for one of those ultra expensive costumes from one of the big box stores. My oldest has his heart set on a Star Wars Storm Trooper costume that is priced at a whopping $49.95. Eek!!!  Sorry, hon – that is just NOT happening!

I know that finances are tough for many these days, so the scary prices I’m seeing when I’m out and about inspired me to seek out some ways to help you save on costumes for your little ones.  With just a little creativity, you can still create a costume to be proud of on the cheap!

  • Make your own costume. This is probably the most obvious way to save some cents. ALL YOU magazine has some cute ones with detailed instructions and templates included. Parenting magazine has some great no-sew costumes too!  Don’t forget to raid your closets.  You probably have the makings of a great costume already on hand.  Pick up some great, cheap accessories from the dollar store/section, and you’re ready to go!
  • Reuse costumes from prior years. We’ve saved all of our costumes through the years.  Before we take the kids out shopping for a new costume, we “shop” what we already have.  It’s very likely that they may have rediscovered a love for Batman or firemen and will be thrilled to wear a costume from a few years back (assuming it still fits).  Or you can recycle them through the ranks.  For example, we have an adorable Old Navy frog costume that we have more than gotten our money’s worth out of.  It’s a running tradition in our family for baby’s first Halloween that will be carried on by baby #5 this year.
  • Organize a costume swap with your friends or share with friends. Surely many of them have barely used costumes and would be more than open to trading them for another gently used costume rather than paying big bucks for a brand new one.  Or perhaps their children will be Trick-or-Treating on a different night than yours and they’d be willing to split the cost of a new costume.
  • Buy used costumes. Thrift stores are a great place to find items to use for costumes.  Old party dresses and funky suits can be used to create a unique costume that your child will be excited to wear.  Consignment shops are a great place to find gently used costumes as well, but you’ll need to start shopping now because the best ones go quickly!  Other sources to check would be Craigslist and eBay.
  • Shop the clearance sections after Halloween or the dollar stores/sections this year to save big next year. You can find costumes at rock bottom prices in the week following Halloween. Stock up for the following year. I’ve even bought clearanced costumes at fabulous prices for the girls’ dress-up box.

We’re actually going to be doing a combination of many of the above suggestions this year.  My oldest is getting a new Storm Trooper costume, but it definitely will not be the $49.95 version.  We’ll be searching out a MUCH cheaper version.  My five-year-old DS wants to reuse the Darth Vader costume that my oldest wore last year, so that’s free!  My four-year-old DD wants to be Barbie from Barbie & the Diamond Castle, and I found a reasonably priced version of this.  Our two-year-old DD I believe is going to wear the Tinker Bell costume that my older DD wore the past two years and actually was a hand-me-down to start.  (Thanks, Chrissy!)  And the baby is going to be the much loved frog, of course.

How are you planning to save on Halloween costumes this year? I’d love to hear your suggestions!

Would you like to have great deals and other money-saving tips delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to my email digest. Or if you use a feed reader, subscribe to my RSS feed!

Costume Kingdom - Halloween Costumes & Masks

Filed Under: saving money Tagged With: frugality

Previous Post: « Get ALL YOU Magazine 2 Years for $17.99!
Next Post: Ziploc Fall Gift Pack from [email protected] »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Boutique Halloween Costumes

    January 23, 2009 at 11:32 am

    Great Tips ! Before 3 months I have collected your costumes for my sports uniform. And i realized that costumes is better & comfortable for sports ………

    Reply
  2. Boutique Halloween Costumes

    January 23, 2009 at 11:32 am

    Great Tips ! Before 3 months I have collected your costumes for my sports uniform. And i realized that costumes is better & comfortable for sports ………

    Reply
  3. Boutique Halloween Costumes

    January 23, 2009 at 6:32 am

    Great Tips ! Before 3 months I have collected your costumes for my sports uniform. And i realized that costumes is better & comfortable for sports ………

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

9 Subscribe & Save Items Under $1

Current Amazon Offers

  • Kindle Deals of the Day
  • Kindle Countdown Deals
  • AmazonFresh Groceries
  • Amazon Prime Free Trial
  • Amazon Music Unlimited
  • Amazon Kindle Unlimited
  • Amazon Baby Registry
  • Amazon Wedding Registry

Hey there — nice to meet you!

I'm Tara: mom of 5 teens/tweens and one 80-lb. Weimaraner, who fancies herself a lap dog. Born and raised in Ohio (GO BUCKS!!!), my fave things include cooking + baking, my JEEP Rubicon, the 4x4 beaches at OBX, and checking out the local craft beer scene...
 
As you can imagine, all of this puts a good dent in my monthly budget. So I've learned how to save on the things I NEED, so I can spend on the things I WANT. Read more.

Want updates by email?

Get all the hottest deals delivered daily right to your email inbox...

Privacy Policy

Disclosures

Deal Seeking Mom is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com.

disclosure policy | privacy policy | user agreement

Copyright © 2023 Deal Seeking Mom on the Foodie Pro Theme