Tricks, Treats and Too Many Bills for Halloween
Halloween is around the corner and Americans are ready to spend an average of $72.3 on decorations, costumes and candy, up from $66.28 last year, according to the National Retail Federation. Seven out of 10 Americans are planning to celebrate Halloween this year by attending parties, visiting haunted houses and handing out candy, according to the National Retail Federation. I’m sure you will celebrate too, but is your wallet ready?
According to AdvertisingAge.com, Americans will spend $1.88 billion on decorations, $2 billion on candy and $ 2.5 billion on costumes. Even though retail stores will persuade you to spend hundreds on expensive costumes, you don’t have to go over budget to have fun. We have the perfect tricks to make Halloween less scary for your wallet.
Design your own costumes: Designing your own costume can be fun and inexpensive. Start by doing some research online to come up with ideas. Once you have one or two costumes in mind, visit a couples of thrift stores to get all the items you need. The website howcast.com has step-by-step videos to show you how to make popular costumes and decorations out of everyday household items. Follow the steps and have fun!
Repurpose old Halloween costumes: Take pieces of old costumes to create new ones. For example, a black cape from a batman costume can always double as a cape for a vampire costume. Also, think of unisex costumes so your family can wear them next year. Holding a costume swap is also a great idea to cut out the price of new costumes and spend some time with your friends.
Buy candy online: To find the best candy deals, visit online sites such as candy.warehouse.com. You can also try discount stores like Wal-Mart, Marshalls or Target for sales.
Visit the dollar store: The dollar store is ideal to find accessories for a few dollars. There you can get spiders, glasses, hats and other accessories that will help you look scary! Halloween decorations and candy are also available for only a few bucks.
Shop after Halloween for next year: If you buy a costume right after Halloween, your friends may think you are crazy, but it’s never too early to start planning for next year. Many stores have sales for up to 90% off of items after the holiday is over. Use this opportunity to collect a few items to use for the following year.
Start saving early: A great way to save for your costume is to start up a pumpkin bank. In December or January estimate the price of your costume and every week throw loose change into a pumpkin bank. Over the course of the year it will add up.
Happy haunting goblins!
