Has the bad economy hit your family hard, and you don’t have as much to spend on Halloween costumes this year? Or do you simply not want to spend lots of money on an outfit your kid will wear once? Time to head to the local thrift store!

 

To start off with, don’t ask your kids what they want to be for Halloween. Thrift stores are more about loving what you find than finding what you want. If your child firmly states that they want to be Spongebob Squarepants, and the store doesn’t have it, you’ll be forced to pay more or disappoint your child. Take them to the store and let them decide there, with an array of colorful options in front of them.

 

Go to the store on a day with the best sales. For instance, my local thrift store has all but the newest clothes and shoes half off every Wednesday. I’ve found something I like on Monday and left it there for two days so I could get it for $5 instead of $10. If you’re not familiar with the store, ask if they have any special sale days.

 

Get there early. Your selections get sparser as each day passes, so don’t wait too long for the perfect sale.

 

Have backup stores. If your child can’t find anything at one store, try another. If other thrift stores are further away, try to combine the trip with visiting other area stores and businesses. You don’t want your savings on a Halloween costume to be eaten up by using more gas.

 

Look around the whole store. Sometimes, the perfect costume won’t be on the costumes rack. Make sure you check out the vintage rack, and even bedding and linen. If you have a few sewing skills you can turn a sheet or curtain into a magnificent cape, and they’re usually much less expensive than new fabric. Vampires, princesses, and pirates can all use regular clothing with a few accessories.

 

Be willing to compromise. The entire outfit doesn’t have to come from the thrift store – in fact, there are some things (like vampire teeth) you’ll definitely want to buy new. One accessory can completely pull together an outfit, so don’t worry too much if you have to pay retail for it.

 

If your kids are a little older, give them a dollar amount and set them loose. If they want to spend more, let them know it’ll have to come out of their allowance or they’ll have to do extra chores for the money. Plus, they can work on their math and budgeting skills as they figure out what to get.

 

I hope these tips help you and your family to have a wonderful, inexpensive Halloween!

 

 

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