Halloween is right around the corner, and now is the perfect time to start thinking of a great costume. With all the fun that comes with dressing up, shopping for a costume can be more expensive than you anticipated. Luckily you can find a costume for a low price — maybe even for free — by knowing these money-saving tips.
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DIY costumes. One of the best ways to find a Halloween costume on a tight budget is to simply make one yourself. Do-it-yourself costumes are cheap to make and give you the freedom to create a costume you might not typically find at a store. With the help of old clothing, everyday household items and a few inexpensive odds and ends, you can put together a costume without paying full price for something store-bought. Need a DIY costume idea? Search for “easy DIY costumes” in Pinterest, and you’ll be amazed at what you find.
Dollar store. For items you don’t already own, visit your local dollar store to pick up a few extra things. Even small items, such as gloves and glitter, are priced higher during the Halloween season. It can be frustrating to pay so much for something you most likely will only use for one day. Instead, find similar items for as low as a dollar. Both Dollar Tree and Family Dollar are perfect choices to find odds and ends with a reasonable price tag. From add-on accessories and face paint to full costumes, it’s worth a look at the dollar store to see what’s available.
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Costume swapping with friends. Know someone who had an awesome costume last year? How about doing a costume swap? Instead of spending any money on a new costume, trade your old getups to a friend or family member. For kids’ costumes, have a swap with parents who have similarly aged children. The great part is that even if you can’t find an exact match in size, you can usually make a few small adjustments to a costume, so it’s more suitable for your child. For instance, you can use all the same accessories of a swapped costume and substitute a shirt of your own. If you have children of different ages, you can save every year on costumes by handing them down as they grow out of their sizes.
Thrift and consignment stores. Thrift stores are another smart choice for those who don’t mind wearing something previously worn. Not only can you save money, but thrift stores offer plenty of unique goods and gadgets to spruce up your costume even more. At thrift stores, a little searching can reveal plenty of clothing in good shape at rock-bottom prices. For more savings, bring along some clothing that you no longer wear to a consignment store. Similar to thrift stores, consignment stores resell gently used items for lower prices. But unlike thrift stores, consignment stores pay you in exchange for your items, so you will immediately get some extra cash right before you start shopping.
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Cheap Halloween stores. If you don’t have time to make your own costume or shop at multiple locations to find everything you need, try stores that already sell complete costumes for a low price. Stores like Amazon and Wal-Mart sell a variety of costumes for all ages at reduced prices. You can also visit a party-themed store, such as Party City, which not only has a huge selection of costumes, but also decorations and treats. Seasonal stores, such as Spirit Halloween and Halloween Express, are exclusively dedicated to providing you with Halloween costumes and accessories. For savings at these stores, look online for coupon codes and shop through cash-back websites to get back a percentage of the money you spent on your costume.
Halloween is all about having a good time. Thinking about how much money you may need to spend can take away from the enjoyment. If you try any of these tips, you can save money, worry less and impress everyone with your costume on one of the most fun days of the year.
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Here’s Where You Can Get Halloween Costumes for Cheap originally appeared on usnews.com
