Getting the most out of my Halloween costume dollars

Halloween is almost here!

This year my youngest two were old enough to pick out their own costumes for themselves. Far be it from me to say no unless for some reason the costume wasn’t suitable for a certain age or situation, but, man, I looked at the tags and shuddered at the sheer cost of the one-night-wear frocks.

Still, there is nothing more valuable than the smile on my children’s faces when they are able to go out into the world pretending to be something fun–all the while being rewarded with sweet treats from generous friends and neighbors.

Because Halloween is such a treasured holiday for my family, I do my best to give them the costumes they want while finding budget friendly ways to save on a homemade ensembles or extend the use of the ones I purchase straight from the store.

To try to save some bucks, I originally decided to peruse the aisles of my local Salvation Army. Not only can I find some amazing deals on items for around the house or clothing, but I like knowing that my dollar is going to help out those in need as well.

Unfortunately, this year I couldn’t find any gently used gems in the right sizes for my kids, so I had to move on to a regular store. I’m sure, however, that with their selection, plenty of other parents scored big for five dollars or less.

If I get the chance to shop ahead, another way to get a great deal on an awesome costume is to buy out of season. What makes this idea sometimes difficult is whether or not it will fit next year or if my kiddo will still have interest in it, but it’s still an fabulous way to score some great play pretend clothes for the dress up chest. I remember in prior years when my son was three he loved to play pretend and getting extremely discounted costumes that are out of season would keep him occupied for hours. Knowing how much fun he had, if I have to pay full price I will sometimes get a costume that’s a bit bigger and good quality because the kids can use it over and over again to play dress up.

Also, if I’m paying full price for a costume, I like to check out local churches or community centers in my area that may have parties or trick or treating before Halloween, so my children can get more than one wear out of their spooky little numbers. That way everyone gets to enjoy the holiday even more. I can hang out with other parents and snap more candids, and I never have to worry about my kids turning their noses up at the chance to trick or treat more than once.

I hope your families enjoy your Halloween, and have a fun, safe time out there. Don’t forget to snag loads of goodies! Muwah hahahaha!