Daily Dupaco

Halloween revelers are spending more than ever on costumes and candy.

Americans plan to shell out an average of $83 on Halloween items this season, up from last year’s $74—an all-time high in the history of the National Retail Federation’s annual survey.

If that price tag sounds frightful, there’s good news: You don’t have to spend a lot to celebrate. Here are some ways to save this Halloween:

Trade costumes with friends. Ask friends and family members if they have costumes from previous years that they would be willing to swap with you.   

Make your own costume. You might already own everything you need to make a great costume. My younger sister went trick-or-treating as a bag of Jelly Belly candy (made with some balloons, a clear garbage bag and a label we created on the computer). For creative inspiration, head over to Pinterest.

Bargain shop. If you don’t have the time or energy to make a costume, visit your favorite consignment store, where you can find gently worn costumes at a fraction of the price. If you want brand-new, take advantage of store sales and coupons.

Plan ahead for next year. Stock up on deeply discounted costumes the day after Halloween. You’ll thank yourself one year from now! Until then, your kids will have fun playing dress-up with the post-Halloween deals you scored. 

By Emily Kittle