4 Mom Approved Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas

The closest I came to Halloween as a kid was through classic movies like “Hocus Pocus” and “Casper.” That’s because I grew up in a religious household that chose not to celebrate Halloween.

Because I didn’t embark on the costume-wearing adventure as a child, it has become a first-generation tradition in my household. Although fun, now in my third year I realize how expensive this costume business can become.

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are expected to spend about $104 on Halloween this year. If you’re joining in on the spooky seasonal festivities, read on for some mom-approved tips on how to save on costumes.

Set a budget to avoid ghostly expenses

If you’re anything like me, spending on creative ventures makes you feel like a kid in a candy store. However, splurging on a Halloween costume can be counterproductive to your financial goals.

Karen Heffren, a mom from Tucson, Arizona, and owner of the DIY blog Desert Chica, says she’s always been frugal, and Halloween is no different.

“When it came to costumes, I didn’t want to spend $25 on a costume that wasn’t great and that my child would wear for an hour,” she says.

Consider setting a hard limit on the amount you spend. If you’re not sure how to calculate what you can afford this year, remember that your costume money should ideally come from your discretionary income. That’s what’s left after you’ve met all your core financial needs.

If you use the 50/30/20 budgeting system, costume money should come from your 30% needs category, while 50% goes to needs and 20% goes to debt and savings.

Push your creative boundaries with a DIY costume

You’ll be surprised how much you can save by making a Halloween costume with items from around the house. Heffren was first inspired to make Halloween costumes about 17 years ago when her family became a single-income household. She shares DIY costume ideas on her blog to help people who might need inspiration, and says you don’t have to be a super crafter to use this option.

“You just have to be able to think about what skills you have, and then adapt your ideas to make it work,” she says.

Inspired by my research and interviews for this article, I plan to be Whitney Houston this year and already have all the supplies I need at home. I use a black leather jacket, big hair, red lipstick, a white shirt and leggings. There are several resources you can consult for DIY costume research, such as Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, blogs, and TikTok.

It’s also important to track expenses on your DIY costume along the way so that it doesn’t end up costing significantly more than a ready-made costume. If it costs more, the extra cost may be worth it if the costume can be reused, which we’ll discuss further below.

Choose costumes that can be reused

Kalia Johnson, a content creator and mom in Dallas, made a grape costume for her son last year, and it’s the gift that keeps on giving because most of the items are still functional. The inspiration for the costume came from her son playfully putting balls from his ball pit into his romper.

“The reason I like this costume is because we still use all the items we used for the costume,” she says. “He still uses ball pit balls. He still uses the bamboo sleeping bag as pajamas. He still uses the hat when it’s cold outside.”

The only items Johnson purchased were the leaves she used, which cost a few dollars.

Heffren also strongly believes in using objects that can be reused. She uses hoodies as an example.

One of her most memorable costumes was Olaf from the movie “Frozen,” and she used a hoodie and felt fabric to create it. Another example? Heffren says you can use a white button-down shirt, cardboard, a print of an angry face, black pants and some felt material to create the Anger character from the “Inside Out” movies.

Heffren recommends using duct tape or sewing items onto the costume base so you can easily reuse it or fix mistakes. I plan to take this advice and use a hoodie and felt material to build my son’s Sonic costume this year.

Consider using second-hand items

Using second-hand supplies for a Halloween costume is another way to save money.

Some places you can buy a used costume or items for a DIY piece include Facebook Marketplace, eBay, OfferUp, or your local thrift store. Keep in mind that one of the challenges of getting a ready-made costume may be finding one that you like and that comes in your size. If you want to coordinate costumes with loved ones, it can be difficult to go this route.

Heffren says people should remember that costumes don’t have to be perfect. That means you don’t have to coordinate your entire family’s costumes, nor do you have to turn costumes into a huge and expensive DIY project.

“I think you just have to set realistic expectations and it’s just for fun, you know? It’s not Picasso, right?”

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Elizabeth Ayoola writes for NerdWallet. Email: [email protected].

The article 4 Mom-Approved Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas originally appeared on NerdWallet.