7 Easy Ways To Save Money On Family Halloween Costumes

Here you will find 7 easy ideas save money on outfitting the entire family for Halloween with costumes that are cheap or free!

HALLOWEEN HOLIDAY FUN

One of our favorite holidays, especially while our kids are still young is Halloween. In past years,  it has been a fun, laid back day, with no particular traditions other than dressing up! In 2019, we had Ariel from the Little Mermaid, Captain America, and Carmen San Diego from the remake of the old show I watched as a kid.  I scored the Captain America costume and Little Mermaid costume at the end of the season sales at 85% off. Carmen San Diego was more of a challenge and we ended up piecing it together. It involved a bit of creativity and sifting through thrift shops but in the end, my daughter was happy with the results.

The excitement of a new costume is basically the highlight of our year. Since our kids are still young, costumes have been pretty easy to acquire. I remember the pressure of that first Halloween with kids trying to find adorable costumes to create those social media-worthy pictures, with costumes that fit our budget and remembering they will only be worn once (maybe twice and then tossed in the dress-up box).  If you find yourself with the same feelings I had, have no fear, because I have compiled a list of ways to include all the fun, and still save money on Halloween Costumes. 

PLANNING FOR HALLOWEEN WITH A BUDGET

Before I can plan any holiday shopping, my husband and I sit down and talk about our budget for the month. Without it, I would not know what I am able to spend or how much I will need to get creative with the event. I do not view this a stifling at all. Budgeting each month helps us achieve our goals and feel confident and comfortable in our purchases knowing what we can afford and staying within those perimeters. With smaller holidays such as Halloween, we do not typically save in advance or create a sinking fund. We purchase what we can afford that month and get creative with the rest, (or do without.) Of course, each family is different and the beauty of a budget is that you can plan for what is important to you! 

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON FAMILY HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

PURCHASE END OF SEASON SALE

My best tip is to purchase your costumes for the following year the evening of or the day after Halloween. (so for 2021 I would buy costumes in 2020) Stores typically mark all their costumes down to rock bottom prices the day after the holiday and I’ve often found sales ranging from 25%-85% off. (sometimes even more) The longer you wait the less variety you will find so the sooner you shop the more options that should be available. This works especially well for young children who tend to have a theme on what they like and you (or they!) can generally choose something they love even for the coming year. 

SHOP RESALE SHOPS

Since costumes are generally only worn once and discarded, scoring costumes that are in perfect condition even resale is pretty easy. Also, resale shops make it easy by oftentimes having a well-organized costume section often in the front of the store. This is an especially fantastic option for adults.

GET CREATIVE AND DIY

My mother-in-law is especially good at this. She is so creative and fun. Even to this day she and her husband still come up with the most creative and best costumes at parties. If you’re not the creative type (like me!) Pinterest is a great resource for ideas. 

SHOP YOUR CLOSET

I love the costumes found in your closet! Items to check for include vintage clothing and old costumes that could be repurposed. If nothing else, you can take inventory of what you have to avoid overspending.

COSTUME SWAP

Create a costume swap. Gather a group of friends and friends of friends where everyone brings former costumes for a fun and free exchange! 

FACEBOOK MARKET PLACE

I’ve personally never used the Facebook marketplace, but I hear it is the place to be to find great deals on needed items. My sisters have used this resource and been very successful in scoring great finds for their families. 

USE CASH BACK OR COUPONS

For items you can’t find a sale on, consider using cashback to cover the expense. Most stores offer lots of coupons during this season so be sure to check out what each store offers in that regard. Cut out applicable coupons from mailers and print out online coupons before heading to the store. 

I’d love to hear your ideas on frugal and creative Halloween costumes! Share your ideas in the comments!