Welcome! Want to discover how to get some cheap boos for Halloween?! You know... costumes for your kids... or even for yourself? I hope you didn't think I 'meant cheap booze. I wish.... Massachusetts doesn't seem to be big on Happy Hour deals...
But anyway, costumes for Halloween are so gosh darn expensive! And unless your kids are big on playing dress up, you typically only get one wear out of 'em. Growing up, my mom always made all of our costumes. We've been everything from a clown, to a cat, a bear, a horse, a princess, a bride, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, a vampire, and the list goes on and on and on. And 99% of the time, my mom made the entire costume.
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| The three Lachapelle girls as teddy bears with our Auntie Nancy. |
I won't lie. I'm certainly crafty but I definitely can't sew. But if that's your thing, more power to you!
I've discovered a few other ways of gathering together costumes for kids of all ages for Halloween.
Yard Sales/Flea Markets
As I said, most of the time you only get one wear out of a costume. So what do people do with all those costumes after that? Sometimes they end up at yard sales and flea markets. And typically, the cost is significantly lower than the retail price. And of course, if you're good at haggling (which I am not) you can haggle the price even lower! This does mean your child, or you, needs to decide what he or she wants to be for Halloween pretty early in the year. Many people in my area still hold yard sales through September and into October and there's a huge flea market at Seekonk Speedway that is held until November. If you're worried about germs or yuckies from previous wearers, just run the costumes through the wash or hand wash them and you're good to go.
Thrift Stores
People who didn't have time or energy or for whatever other reason didn't get around to selling their old costumes sometimes end up donating them. Goodwill, Savers, Salvation Army and all of your local thrift stores will feature costumes as Halloween gets closer. Sometimes the costumes may even end up being covered under these thrift stores' special days of the week sales. Again, wash whatever you buy if you're worried.
Costume Swap
Got friends? Got friends with kids? Perhaps they too are in your same dilemma. Lots of costumes in the closet, only worn once, and no use for them now. Get together and have a costume swap. Let the kids pick out a costume from what your friends may have. Perhaps you'll only end up with an accessory or two, maybe you'll only need to buy an accessory or two. Either way, you can make this a fun day for parents and kids alike. Make some snacks - get frisky and make them Halloween themed - and party on with your costumes.
Your Own Closet
Yes, you read that right. Check your own closet. A costume doesn't mean it has to have been marketed as a costume. Think back to all those awful clothes you wore in the past and later had serious
Again, if you think in these terms, the thrift stores are a great place to visit because some days it seems like all they have in stock are things people wore 10, 20, 30 or even 40 years ago...
I once turned my old prom dress (it was white with rhinestones and sequins) into a princess dress for a Halloween party. I threw a tiara on top that my mom had from a previous costume and slipped on some white shoes I already had and voila. Free costume.
So, I know it's still sorta early, but any ideas what you or your kids want to be for Halloween!?
Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts
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