I love dressing up for Halloween, but the one thing I don’t like is spending money for it. According to CNN, Americans are expected to spend a whopping $6.9 billion on Halloween this year. To each their own, but that just seems ridiculous. Why would you spend so much when you can create your own fabulous, unique costume for about $15 or less?
Don’t worry if you’re thinking that you have to tighten your belt notches this year and spend the least amount possible on your costume. I’ve got you covered, rounding up the top 5 places to buy Halloween costumes on a budget! I spent a total of $10 on my costume, so I’m sure you can do the same!
- Your Local Thrift Store:
Your local thrift store has everything from full costumes to different elements and accessories to purchase. Last year I was Gomora from Guardians of the galaxy, and I got this awesome black vest topper to go over my green top for only $3! This year, my boyfriend was also able to buy multiple elements for his costume totaling $5 for everything. Get creative, and realize that you can cut things up, add elements, and paint pieces so that they work better with your costume. All it takes is a bit of creativity, and you have a world of opportunity here! Just please, do me a favor and Lysol EVERYTHING! You don’t know where it’s been, so make sure you clean each item well before you wear it.
- The Dollar Store:
The dollar store is one of the most underrated Halloween shops ever! There are usually a couple of different dollar stores around, so check them all out and prepare to be astounded with the rows of Halloween costumes and accessories for only $1 a piece! Again, the key to finding great costumes and costume elements is being open. I wanted a headpiece for a flapper girl, and was able to find a sequined headband, and decided to pull the feathers off of a masquerade mask. Boom. Halloween accessory for $2 total. If I would have purchased a bag of feathers separately, it probably would have been$2-$3 on its own.
- Your Local Fabric Store:
You’ll be surprised how much you can make your dollar stretch at the fabric store. Check online and in the mail, as they often have a lot of great coupons and discount codes, making it even less expensive to buy Halloween costume basics. Not everyone is great at sewing, but think about ways to tie and belt the fabric to create Halloween costumes from the least amount of sewing possible. Last year for one night of Halloween I was able to get white fabric to use for a princess leah costume for $5. All I did was cut a hole for my head, wear a black slip dress underneath, and belt the fabric at the waist to create the illusion of a dress. Simple DIY for $5!
- Amazon.com
Amazon is great for accessories. I wouldn’t recommend buying full costumes as those will cost you, but you can often find inexpensive jewelry, wigs, and eyewear for $10 or under. I got a set of long pearls and earrings for $8, bringing my total Halloween costume cost to $10!
- Your Closet:
Don’t be afraid to use what you have, or commission your friends and family to check their closets for pieces you can use. You never know what kind of pieces can be used as a canvas for other accessories, makeup, etc. that you purchase. Using what you have is the biggest budget saver you can use! There’s nothing cheaper than not buying something, so think about what you can use as a foundation, and what iconic pieces you can add to really make your outfit stand out.
Do you have any Halloween budget saving tips you can share? Show me your best costumes with #writestyles