Halloween is a highly anticipated holidays for many people but especially families with children. Even though the holiday is all about fun and candy it can get expensive when you start to buy costumes, candy, decorations and do Fall/Halloween activities. This, like with Christmas expenses, can put a dark cloud over the heads of those who are strapped for cash. But I am here to save you! There are so many ways that you can save money and still have a memorable day with family and friends. Here are five money-saving Halloween tips for the family on a budget!
Watch for costume deals.
Outside of candy, costumes are the biggest part of Halloween. Adults and children alike spend tons of time and effort choosing and then procuring the perfect costume. But after that perfectly scary, clever or cute costume is chosen, reality quickly sets in when you see the price. Costumes, especially of popular characters, can get expensive, especially when you add on the fact that you’ll only want to wear it once. For parents with multiple children to outfit for that special day, dishing out $40-$60 per child can really add up. To avoid dropping major coin for one day, you’ll need to shop around and take advantage of Halloween deals. Websites like Amazon and Walmart carry some of the same costumes that can be found at party stores and specialty Halloween shops but at a discounted price. I took advantage of a 40% off coupon on the Target Cartwheel app, along with a price match offer and got my daughter’s Mini Mouse costume for $8! Taking advantage of coupons can be tricky. You have to watch them vigilantly. I would suggest keeping your eyes out for coupons along with sales. Double down on your savings by shopping sales through rebate programs like ibotta and Ebates to earn cash back on your already discounted purchases!
Costume Swap with Family & Friends
Having friends and family with kids around the same age comes with the benefit of being able to swap costumes. This way, even if your budget is tight, your child has the opportunity to be a different character from the previous year. You can make the costume new again by adding a new accessory, changing up the face paint or buying a new candy bucket for your child to carry. Older children may gripe at the idea of hand-me-downs but children 4 years old and younger won’t bat an eye at this. You can also shop around at second-hand stores to see what they offer as costume options. You would be surprised at the variety of characters and sizes they have on hand. Just don’t wait until the last minute!
Scary movie night in
If you aren’t able to get costumes this year you can still plan out a great night of activities for your family. You can spend a little extra time decorating your living room with spooky, homemade decorations, pop some popcorn, get snacks and have a fun scary movie night in. Check out sites like Pinterest for ideas on how to take your movie night to the next level. One of my favorite Pinterest ideas is putting an inflatable pool in your living room, filled with blankets and pillows. This unique idea is a comfy lounge option and a great way to keep toddlers in place during the movie.
Neighborhood Festivities
If Trick or Treating door to door isn’t your thing or an option because of the weather, the month of October usually offers lots of other options for Halloween fun. Many communities have Mall trick or treating. The children go store to store collecting candy in a climate controlled environment, giving them a chance to run around in a safe place while showing off those costumes. This is a free event that is close to home and always a good time. Check out your local mall’s website to get details. Charities and not for profit organizations also have fun, free events in October for children and families. Check out your local library and community calendar to see what October events they have. Our local library has pumpkin painting for toddlers and our community is having a free Halloween festival. You can always go to a pumpkin patch or haunted house but keep in mind that free alternatives may be just around the corner.
Get creative with a DIY costume
Just in case my suggestions in tip #1 & #2 don’t work out you can tackle the task of creating your own costume, which can also double as an inexpensive Halloween activity. Many of us don’t have the time or know how to plop down in front of a sewing machine and craft a costume from scratch. Even still, you can use clothing from your existing wardrobe and items around the house to come up with something unique and custom made! Easy costumes to pull off include: a Nerd, Minion, Chucky, a Black cat, Clark Kent and many more. Search google and Pinterest for easy DIY costume ideas to get the creative juices flowing.
As you can see, you don’t have to break the bank to have a great Halloween night. Just remember to be flexible and have a good time!
