Dressing up in costume for Halloween is one of the most enjoyable parts of the month of October, but costumes can be expensive to purchase. This is especially true when you’re purchasing for several children at the same time. Kids’ costumes can add up quickly in price, but you can save a significant amount of money by either re-using the ones that you bought last year, or creating your own.
Re-use the costumes from last year
If your children are the same gender and similar in age, pass along the costume to the next child. If the costume has parts to it that can be used, by all means do so. For example, a black cape can be great for a vampire, witch, warlock or magician. A red dress can be great for a vampire, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White with the addition of a white apron, Heidi with the addition of a white pinafore, a salsa dancer with the addition of some multicolored ruffles at the hem and some maracas, and so on.
Make Your Own
If you need to start from scratch because nothing fits or you already got rid of it or gave it away to a charity shop (a great source of cheap costumes, then try creating one of these frugal and fun costume ideas for your kids this year:
1. Weatherman (or Weathergirl).
If your child already has rain gear, such as a yellow jacket and rain boots, you can easily add to this attire for a creative costume. Outfit a large umbrella with craft paper lightning bolts and raindrops or snowflakes strung up on fishing line. This simple costume is super cute and very cheap to make.
Many “occupational” costumes are simple to make using materials you already have in your home. You may need to buy a costume hardhat to finish off a carpenter or construction costume, for example, but the cost is much lower when you can use your own blue jeans/carpenter’s jeans, flannel shirt and tool belt from home. For a policeman costume, you would need a blue shirt, dark trousers and a badge or emblem such as NYPD.
2. Crayon.
This is another fun costume you can make with things you may already have. Take a solid color shirt and pant set and adhesive-backed felt. Create “CRAYON” or a color label with black felt. Make accents for the wrists and ankles that coordinate with a typical “Crayola.” Finally, top it off with a pointed party hat in a coordinated color for the perfect sharpened tip on your crayon. You can also roll them in a craft paper tube in the appropriate color with CRAYON written on it, and the hat. Hold up the crayon roll with shoulder straps made out of the craft paper or a couple of matching socks stapled to the paper.
3. Animal costumes.
Animal costumes are easy to make, beginning with a leotard or a single-colored outfit and a coordinating fabric or felt. Attach ears to a headband, and create a tail that you can safety-pin to the waistband. A little face paint goes a long way, but doesn’t cost much to acquire. Dogs and cats work well as quick animal costume ideas.
Get more creative with lizards, birds and other animal costumes depending on what materials you have at hand. Ear headbands and various animal headpieces can be found in a party store but are easy to make. For young children, you can striped or fluffy fabric to turn your child into a lion or tiger. You can find free patterns online that will help you judge just how much fabric and trim you will need.
With enough planning, you can create your own costumes quickly and easily, often with items that you already have at home. This will allow your children to get the most out of their Halloween experience without forcing you to spend more than you can afford.
Halloween is now an important holiday that many schools participate in, with parties, costume parades, bakes goods and more. Your child will not want to be left out, but luckily you can get them a great costume if you refurbish last year’s, shop at a charity store for one, or make your own at home.
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