Here comes my daughter's favorite holiday - Halloween! She thinks about her costume for the whole year and when the Halloween catalogs come in the mail, she studies them for weeks. For most kids, this is a big time decision! Her costume choices seem to be getting pricier each year, and she only wears it once, of course. Is a brand new costume really necessary or are there other options?
Here's an idea: try the handmade route. The classic ghost, hippie, house wife in a housecoat, slippers and curlers, clown, and hobo never go out of style. If you have an old trunk filled with hats, boots, wigs, feather boas, Hawaiian shirts and fake swords, it may just do the trick. Creating your own custom look is part of the fun of Halloween, after all, and it's a great activity to do with your kids.
Of course, sometimes it's impossible to convince your little one to be a hobo for Halloween rather than SpiderMan or a Princess. If you can't find the items you need at your house or Grandma's, try these ideas rather than buying new and/or full price:
1. Rent a Costume. Contume rental companies usually have really elaborate looks that kids love, and at a fraction of the cost of buying. Check the Yellow Pages for stores in your area.
2. Visit Etsy.com. This site, which features items that are all handmade, may have the skirt, eye patch, or mask you need to complete your special Halloween look.
3. Ebay. I am a huge fan of this option. Halloween costumes are worn once and in most cases are almost brand new. It makes a lot of sense to purchase these "gently used" items. And there are 1,746 costumes available right now.
4. TJMaxx or Marshalls. For bargain costumes, visit some off price retailers that carry the overstocks of other stores. They usually have a great selection and I recommend that you re-sell your costume on Ebay next year, or donate it to the less fortunate.
Here's an idea: try the handmade route. The classic ghost, hippie, house wife in a housecoat, slippers and curlers, clown, and hobo never go out of style. If you have an old trunk filled with hats, boots, wigs, feather boas, Hawaiian shirts and fake swords, it may just do the trick. Creating your own custom look is part of the fun of Halloween, after all, and it's a great activity to do with your kids.
Of course, sometimes it's impossible to convince your little one to be a hobo for Halloween rather than SpiderMan or a Princess. If you can't find the items you need at your house or Grandma's, try these ideas rather than buying new and/or full price:
1. Rent a Costume. Contume rental companies usually have really elaborate looks that kids love, and at a fraction of the cost of buying. Check the Yellow Pages for stores in your area.
2. Visit Etsy.com. This site, which features items that are all handmade, may have the skirt, eye patch, or mask you need to complete your special Halloween look.
3. Ebay. I am a huge fan of this option. Halloween costumes are worn once and in most cases are almost brand new. It makes a lot of sense to purchase these "gently used" items. And there are 1,746 costumes available right now.
4. TJMaxx or Marshalls. For bargain costumes, visit some off price retailers that carry the overstocks of other stores. They usually have a great selection and I recommend that you re-sell your costume on Ebay next year, or donate it to the less fortunate.
Have a safe and enjoyable Halloween!