Tween Halloween Costume IdeasTweens (ages 10-12) are generally looking for a fun or creative costume that shows off their personality. Many traditional costumes are considered too childish but they are not yet ready for grown up fare, if it is too scary or "sexy". Here is some advice to help your tween choose what to wear this Halloween.
Firefighter Costume on a BudgetA kid's firefighter Halloween costume is about $25 to $35. The costume will only be worn for a few times this month and just for a couple of hours.
Journalist Costume for PhotographerThis Halloween, my photographer husband and I attended two costume parties. He wanted to be able to take pictures at both events so we needed to find a costume that allowed him to incorporate his camera.
Dora Homemade CostumeMy daughter loves Dora, so for Halloween she is going to dress up as her. I got a pink t-shirt from Old Navy that has Boots on the front and the backpack on the back.
Cracked Porcelain Doll CostumeI had the opportunity to dress up two days in a row for costume parties this year. I chose to be a cracked porcelain doll out of items I already had in my closet. Here are pictures of my makeup both nights.
Embellishing Dollar Store Costume ItemsMy husband is a viking for Halloween, because a few years ago we found him a marvellous plastic viking hat complete with horns. This year, we added other plastic elements from the Dollar store.
Check Thrift Store For Halloween CostumesI do volunteer work in a local thrift shop. Do check in your local shop for Halloween costumes. As they are a one time a year item, there is no sense in paying a lot for the children's outfit.
Shop the Week After HalloweenThe best solution we found was to shop the week *after* Halloween for the following year. For instance, my daughter wanted us all to be characters from the Wizard of Oz. We could not afford the costumes in time for Halloween 2010, but they were 75% off the first week of November!
Visit Thrift Stores for HalloweenWhen my daughter was young, we'd go to the local Salvation Army Store and get her a prom dress or some old outfit that she could tear and make look all ragged. Paying a couple of dollars was the best way to go for something she'd only wear once.
Goodwill Outlet Center For Halloween...We needed to get several costumes worth of clothing and extras but didn't have the budget to get store bought costumes or buy them new. So we found a Goodwill sorting and donation center near us.
Halloween Costumes from the Dollar StoreNo need to spend a lot of money on Halloween costumes. The Dollar Store has a lot of children's toys and things that you can make a costume with. For girls, fairy wings and a wand, play jewelry, and gloves can make a cute fairy.
Buy Used Halloween CostumesUse websites like eBay to find and save money on Halloween costumes for your children. You can buy last year's costumes for much less than a new one.
Find Your Halloween Costume in Someone Else's ClosetCreating or coming up with a homemade Halloween costume is easily done by searching through someone else's closet! Simply ask a friend or sibling if you can pick a costume from their closet.
Halloween: Elevated Ghost CostumeHi from Canada! Halloween is bigger than Christmas here in Quebec, Canada, and the costumes are wonderfully unique.
Use Washable Glue to Attach Gems To HairWhen I was young, I'd put little braids in my hair then glue rhinestones to the braids for sparkles when I'd go out at night. This would be wonderful for a child's fairy or princess costume at Halloween!
Halloween: Bingo CostumeI play a lot of Bingo and this was really fun to dress up in and go play bingo. I saved all my cards that I used for the last few weeks. I put them in between plastic. I then taped them all over me and I went to Bingo as a Bingo card.
"Rent" a Halloween Costume from eBay!Last year our daughter fell in love with the Supergirl costume from the Lillian Vernon catalog, priced at about $30. Instead, we found the same costume, worn once, on eBay for under $10. This year we expect to sell it for that price and get our money back.
Use Your Pet as a Halloween PropThis year we got a puppy so he'll be going trick or treating with our 12 year old daughter. Good opportunity for puppy to meet all the neighbors. Our daughter is going dressed up as a football player and the puppy will be her football!
Saving Money on Halloween CostumesAs fast as children grow, they outgrow their clothes fast, usually meaning less money in your wallet. Before this Halloween, either shop for gently used Halloween costumes either at yard sales, or your local thrift stores before buying a costume at a retail store. It is much cheaper than renting one or buying one.
Look For Secondhand Halloween CostumesI love to shop at thrift stores and yard sales. A few summers ago I found blowup costumes that were adorable. They were still in the box and I payed a buck and a half for each. I tossed em in the closet and four months later for Halloween I remembered I had them.
Keep Your Eye Out for Good CostumesKeep your eye out all during the year for items to possibly toss together to make inexpensive Halloween costumes during your everyday wanderings out while shopping.
Last Minute Halloween CostumeLast minute Halloween costume: Use a marker to write on an old t-shirt. I AM A _________(cat, pumpkin, puppy... If you can, draw a stick figure on the back, and a few whiskers on the child's face. Call it minimalist!
By Linda
Costume Treasure Chest at Clearance PricesWell, Halloween is fast approaching and soon it will be all over but the belly aches. Start thinking now about those Clearance sales that will have those pricey costumes discounted to practically nothing.
Halloween Costume Ideas for AdultsHere are a couple of grown up costume ideas that are fairly cheap. "Devil with a blue dress" (for you rock and rollers.) Last year I wore a blue dress I'd already had with devil horns and tail I picked up on sale for 1.99 and everyone loved it!
