Contributed by Alex Bill of ClothingRIC.
Halloween is an event that is observed primarily throughout the western world. It also has many eastern variations, making it a popular global tradition.
Of course, Halloween costumes remain a big part of this occasion. It was estimated that a staggering $3.4 billion was spent on Halloween costumes just two years ago. However, sometimes the cost of these costumes can burden one’s budget. This holds especially true for students who need to survive campus life with the little money they make from part-time jobs. If you’re short on cash and looking to dawn a cool outfit this Halloween, you’re at the right place.
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Below I will highlight how to save on Halloween shopping so that you may benefit from these time-tested techniques. Let’s begin.
Halloween Celebrations Around The World
Before we get to the costumes, we must first understand how Halloween is celebrated in different cultures.
History links the celebration of Hallows Eve to Ireland, Scotland, and the United Kingdom. However, the United States has painted the modern Halloween picture involving trick-or-treating, costumes, and parties. Other countries celebrate Halloween, too; however, some have different names for the festival.
For example, Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead, and the Japanese have the Obon festival in July and August. In the Philippines, folks celebrate an event similar to Halloween called Pangagaluluwa. Italians honor the dead, too, and celebrate The Souls Day on the first day of November. People in Spain label October 31 as The Day Of The Witches, called The Day Of The Pumpkins in Galicia.
In Australia, however, people don’t celebrate Halloween as enthusiastically as in other countries. The holiday has weaved its way into the country thanks to the American pop culture exhibited on Hollywood television.
Regardless of the region, Halloween costumes are a mainstay of the occasion. While people get Bloody Mary or gorilla costumes, others display a love of their culture on this holiday.
The Costly Side – How People Save On Halloween Shopping
Halloween comes with a slew of costs. However, costumes remain the biggest worry.
To help, I’ve created a list of ways to save on Halloween shopping.
1. Shop early or at the last moment
If you are keen on saving money, purchase your costume a year prior or a few days before October 31. You see, once the festivities of Hallows Eve are all wrapped up, prices take a trek downward. At this time, you can buy a costume for the next year.
Or when the festival is just the next day, shops give huge discounts to empty their stocks. Shopping for a costume at this time can also help people save on Halloween shopping.
2. Use coupons and promo deals
Some also save on shopping by making use of coupons. You can collect coupon codes and deals for getting classic costumes. You can also purchase material for decorations and any candies for distribution through the coupons.
You can easily get coupons from your favorite outlets’ websites, newsletters, and social media channels. Using coupons while shopping online is especially easy as you only have to make a few clicks. In other words, coupons are a convenient way of saving on costumes.
3. Go to thrift or consignment stores
You can get what you want at a thrift or consignment store to keep Halloween shopping cheap. At such places, the prices are one-third of those at outlets or malls.
You can also check out any running garage sales for getting costumes and decorative materials. Many save on shopping by purchasing their essentials from there.
4. Try DIY or swapping
If you are short on cash and have a minimal budget, search for DIY ideas for costumes, treats, and decorations online. And if you have any sewing or makeup skills, these can come in handy during such a festival. If this idea doesn’t work for you, think of any friends whom you can exchange last year’s costumes with.
Key Takeaway
Halloween is an opportunity to display a creative side or pay homage to their favorite pop culture icons. Of course, this becomes extremely difficult when cost tags on costumes exceed their monthly income.
Luckily, there are several ways you can save on Halloween shopping. Taking a page from their book, you can go DIY, buy a year before the season ends, or just before the big day. You can also use coupons and deals, plus try looking for the costumes of your choice at thrift or discount stores.
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This post was written by Alex Bill of ClothingRIC, a website with the latest discount and coupon news.
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