Creating Halloween Costumes Without Breaking the Bank
Growing up Halloween was never big with my family. To this day with my kids, I still don’t care much about it but my husband loves it. One thing I do enjoy about the Halloween season is getting dressed up for some pictures.
I love doing family-themed costumes! But one thing I do not like about costumes is how expensive everything is. It’s so hard for me to justify spending $40+ on a costume that will only get worn once. The bigger our family gets, the more conscious I am of how much is being spent and I’m always looking for ways to cut costs.
Halloween doesn’t have to break the bank. So I want to share with you the different methods I use to put together cute costumes without spending a fortune.
Work with What You Have
I’ve done this for myself multiple years for Halloween. Before I had kids I always used stuff I had and even after I still do. Spending a bit for my kids is one thing but I just can’t justify spending a bunch for me, especially if I’m not going to be wearing the costume again. I always try to use what I already have and make options from my closest work first before buying anything new.
Shop Thrift Stores
Thrift store shopping is so great for dated costume looks or when you want something new to you that works for what you want to dress up as. Items are cheaply priced and you can find some good options.
Our first Halloween as a couple, my husband and I dressed as Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski from “Saved by the Bell”. This was a simple costume. I bought a Bayside sweatshirt online (which I was planning on buying anyway) and then wore leggings I already had. Robbie wore his own pants and we went thrift shopping to find his sweater.
Reuse & Upcycle
Repurposing old costumes to reuse or changing them to make a new costume is a great option. People upcycle furniture and decor why not Halloween costumes too? Getting more than one use out of a costume (or pieces of costumes) can make the price more worth it.
Our 2nd Halloween together in person we didn’t do a theme together, we just went with stuff we already had. I put together some pieces of clothes I already had to create a simple Minnie Mouse costume and Robbie wore an old costume he had as a giant ape.
Go with Alternatives
If your first idea for a costume doesn’t pan out, try an alternative. It’s ok to go with the comfy and cozy costume instead of the cute and fancy one. It’s ok if everyone doesn’t want to match and it’s ok if you don’t want to go all out some years.
Our 3rd Halloween, we went with simple and comfy. I was 12 weeks pregnant with my daughter and didn’t want to do much. We didn’t really have a family theme but we did both wear onesies. We got them at Walmart. I was Abby Yates from the new all-female Ghostbusters movie and Robbie was a Ninja Turtle. Our pups also joined the fun as Elsa and a cowgirl.
Make Your Own
Making your own costumes is a great way to save money! I love doing DIY projects and making my own. Little girl costumes are so easy as you can usually just do a simple tulle tutu skirt. You could sew something, paint shirts, etc. There are so many options when it comes to making your own costumes.
For our 4th Halloween and first as a family of 3 — we did a family theme of “The Wizard of Oz”. I made most of our costumes with limited supplies. Lacey Belle was Dorothy, I was Glenda the Good Witch, and Robbie was the Lion. Our pups got dressed up too with Stralia as the Scarecrow and Trixie as the Tinman. The only costume I didn’t make was the lion. We got a onesie from Walmart for that one.
Mix & Match
Some years and costumes may be harder than others to make everyone’s or find options with what you already own. You can easily create a balance with Halloween spending if you mix and match: buy some, make some. Use what you have with some pieces, buy some pieces. Doing a mix of some expensive items but some not will help you save some too.
Our 5th Halloween was our first as a family of 4. We did a family theme of “The Little Mermaid”. Lacey Belle was Ariel, Weston was Flounder, Robbie was King Triton, and I was Vanessa (aka human Ursula). We did a mix of things for these costumes. Ariel & King Triton we bought costumes at a Halloween store. For Flounder I made a shirt. And for Vanessa, I just wore clothes I already had and made a shell necklace.
Shop Around for Better Prices
When you only wear costumes once it doesn’t have to be something fancy and expensive. Shop around to compare prices and look online. Find the best deals and go with it. Amazon may be cheaper than Walmart on some things and vice versa. Comparing prices from different stores will help you find the cheapest price and you can save money.
This year for our 6th Halloween we went with a “Toy Story” theme. Lacey Belle as Bo Peep, Weston as Buzz Lightyear, me as Jessie, and Robbie as Woody. I didn’t have time to make costumes this year and also didn’t want to spend a bunch so we got all our costumes at Walmart. A lot cheaper then a Halloween store but still more then if I had just made them.
Whether you are a family of two, four, or ten, you can use these simple methods to help cut costs. Some years you may not be able to make every single costume. Some years you may have to mix it up and buy a couple, reuse a couple or use outfits you already have. Depending on your theme you may or may not already have items you can use. But always checking what you have first and then going from there can help you save a lot in the long run.
Try these ideas first and a Halloween store as a last resort and it can help you save. Whether you save a little or a lot, every little bit helps! Do you already use any of these methods when creating Halloween costumes or do you always buy something new? Let me know in the comments below. Happy Halloween!
