Take the Horror Out of Your Halloween Costume Budget
According to the National Retail Federation, Americans plan to spend $9 billion on Halloween in 2018. A few decades ago, almost everyone made their own costumes. These days, costume shops begin to pop up in shopping malls across the islands as early as September!
However, it is not wise to go into the holiday season accumulating more debt or maxing out a credit card for one frightful night of fun. With Halloween around the corner, there’s plenty of time to find ways to slash that costume budget.
Use household items
Great costumes can be made from everyday household items like duct tape, toilet paper, face paint, old clothes and glue. Perhaps some old clothes or hats may be tucked away in Grandma’s closet. A sports buff would surely have uniforms or sports equipment around the house that can be used to make a convincing costume. You could even make a trip to a thrift store to grab bargains that can easily be turned into costumes such as a tacky tourist or a mischievous bandit.
Face painting
Face painting is a creative, easy and economical way for you to not break your costume budget. Children of all ages and many adults enjoy painting their faces as part of a Halloween theme or costume. Check out Pinterest to see a wide array of options and ideas for creating inexpensive and unique Halloween fun using face paint. If you are interested in getting some good ideas and finding costumes that were popular over the last 25 years, check out this link from Personal Creations.
Skip the candy
Aside from costume planning, another great way to keep the ghoulish fun within a reasonable budget is to skip passing out candy. Candy can be expensive, especially in high traffic neighborhoods. Another option would be to hand out Halloween stickers or other novelty items that can be purchased very inexpensively from websites like Oriental Trading. Offering non-candy treats is also sure to be appreciated at everyone’s next dental appointment!
Let your creativity shine this Halloween. You may find yourself smiling all the way to the Credit Union knowing that you’ve saved a bundle for the next big holiday!
Want a little more help? Check out our eLearning BUDGETING TOOL.
