With Halloween less than a week away, folks are on the prowl for costumes, parties, and decorations to celebrate in style. The haunted holiday is the 8th biggest selling season and Americans are expected to shell out a total of $6.9 million, according to the National Retail Federation. Here are some budget-friendly tips to help you save.
Don’t waste money on Halloween greeting cards.
You might be in the doghouse if you don’t buy your girlfriend a card on Valentine’s Day, but let’s face it, Halloween cards are totally unnecessary. Still, surprisingly, Americans are projected to spend $330 million on Halloween greeting cards this year alone. That’s a third of what we’re spending on Valentine’s Day cards, just to say “Happy Halloween!” While it’s a thoughtful gesture, it’s just another way retailers spook you out of your dollar.
Instead of sending paper party invitations for your Halloween festivities, a free e-vite will do just fine. Try sites like paperlesspost.com or evite.com.
Don’t waste money on kids’ costumes that are “new for 2015.”
Each year, parents spend around $950 million on children’s costumes. The perennial favorites are princesses, superheroes and animals. So there’s no need to spend an extra $15 or more for a new edition when you can easily get last year’s version and save.
Don’t waste money on costly costumes for pets.
Pet owners spend about $61 billion on their furry friends each year, $350 million of which will be dedicated to Halloween costumes alone. That’s 20 million pets dressed up. While the average amount spent is around $18, there's a market for custom couture costumes on Etsy for pet lovers that spare no expense -- even if it costs hundreds or thousands of dollars.
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