Four ways to save on trick or treat costumes

Each year, people go batty trying to come up with some spooktacular, clever and fun ideas to celebrate Halloween. That doesn't mean it has to be expensive - for those who don’t have kids who like to trick or treat, at most, you'll probably stay at home and hand out sweets, which only costs a few dollars.

But what if you do have kids that need trick or treat costumes and you’re finding that you’re running low on funds? Trick or treat costumes don’t have to be expensive either - here are 4 ideas that will be easy on your bank account, while still making your trick or treaters the talk of the festivities!

1. Look online for do-it-yourself halloween costume ideas. The best place to start is Pinterest. Simply visit the website or download the app to your phone and type in “DIY Halloween Costumes” to see all of the fabulous and affordable options there are available. For example, a bunch of purple balloons and a piece of green fabric or paper can turn your child into a grape!

2. Talk to your friends and family with kids. Chances are, you have friends or family who have kids that are a little bit older than yours. You may find they are willing to pass down costumes to your children. Once a costume is used, it’s usually just put away in a closet to collect dust, so start digging to find out what treasures your friends and family have stashed away.

3. Check online using other websites and apps such as Facebook, Gumtree or other buy and sell style websites. You can usually find new or pre-loved costumes for very little money as people try to get rid of last years so they can go out and buy new costumes for this year.

4. Use what you already have on hand in the house. Be creative...cardboard boxes, makeup, old fabric, dresses, shoes, gift wrap, hats, etc. can all be used to create a unique and one of a kind costume. Most of the time you don’t even need to know how to sew. A little tape (or a lot) can go a long ways when coming up with a costume that will be sure to stand out!

Bonus tip! If you decide that you want to save money, but buy a new costume, plan ahead as the best time to do it is right after Halloween this year. Most stores put costumes on sale or clearance so you can save money, but just remember to buy a size or two bigger so that your kids will fit into it perfectly next year!

And if you're looking to host a party this year, or want to serve up treats for the treaters that come knocking, Taste of Home has a great collection of halloween treats including halloween candy, mini cakes, bars, treats on a stick and much more. They're a great spooky addition to your party and best of all the kid's can help you make them too!