I’ve never been a big spender when it comes to Halloween. Candy, YES {because c’mon, who doesn’t want leftovers}, but as far as costumes go, my kids usually made their own {although I must confess we did go through a Disney period with The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird}.
Even though I never spent a boatload on costumes, my kids loved to dress up. They talked about what they wanted “to be” the entire month before Halloween–and truth be told, they continued to play dress-up with their costumes for months after. With hindsight, I really do kind of get the appeal of buying a costume.
I did some digging, because I was curious how much an average store-bought costume costs these days. ABC News found that the average price of a store bought costume is around $29.60. If you have more than one kid, that could add up pretty quickly. I know lots of people who bite the bullet once or twice, spend the money, and then on the in between years, do costume exchanges with friends. That seems like a pretty good compromise if you ask me.
Either way: purchased or made, dressing up is fun. In fact, I spotted this costume and about fell over. Are there really people out there who go all out like that?! If so, I kind of want to meet them.
What’s YOUR limit on Halloween costume spending?
~Mavis
What are your kids going to be this year? Here’s the top 5 trending store-bought choices for 2014 according to my good friend, Mr. Google:
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle {I am guessing the recent movie caused a revival?}
- Guardians of the Galaxy {Super hero fans can rejoice}
- Frozen Characters {The latest characters to hit the Princess scene are Anna and Elsa–she’s all the rage in the 6 and under crown :)}
- Transformers {These costumes are fully loaded, quite literally from head to toe}
- Witch {Finally, a classic, not inspired by a movie}
Margery says
My youngest is wearing the peter pan outfit that my mom made for me when I was that age, and I am dressing as Captain Hook for a Mummy and Me dance. When the bigs were little I made costumes and they played with them all year ( knights, cowboys, nijias). In fact one my favorite gifts to make for little ones is to hit the Halloween aisle when everything is on clearance for 75% off and pick up a bunch of outfits and give for Christmas. In fact my current little one it was spider-man outfits, each year I had to get another one to replace the old one at Christmas. The big kids it was princess dresses for the girls and my current 16yo I remember a Pokemon Pekagu outfit that he would wear everyday after-school, and the 22yo it was a ninja turtle outfit and the 17yo a batman outfit. This is making me smile.
Jenny says
Usually we make costumes. I have a kid that likes to read so I have made quite a few book characters. So far, I made Artemis (from Percy Jackson), Annie Oakley,( that was when she was into biographies), Mara Jade and Princess Leia from the Star Wars books, and a couple others. Problem is, you spend hours making a costume and no one know who they are because they are from books. My son usually gets whatever is easiest. One year he was an ear of corn. I just painted egg cartons yellow and stuck them on an old green sweatshirt. He didn’t care as long as he got candy. He just saw The Princess Bride and said he wanted to be the man in black. He told me I could be Inigo because I look like him. Thanks Bud.
Cathi says
My daughter went as Annabeth from Percy Jackson one year! Let’s hear it for literary costumes!
Cathi says
I have made 90% of my daughters’ costumes the one non-Mom being a cat-suit for Black Widow.
We have done Disney (Sleeping Beauty, Piglet, Tigger and Belle), literature (Percy Jackson and 2 from Harry Potter [now worn by multiple people]) historical, general (witch, fairy and cowgirl) and they are still being worn.
The girls have worn some multiple times and they have loaned them out as well.
They have not always been cheap to make but they have lastest a LONG time. I even have a cape (still being used) that I made in high school and that’s a few decades ago.
Hand made or found costumes rule in my book!
Jenn says
I don’t have any kids, but I always go out trick or treating with my nephew. We found him a great deal for a pirate costume this year at Costco. We paid $25 for it and it is pretty neat looking. Complete with a hat and sward. And he will wear it year round to play dress up in. I as an adult want one good costume to make for myself. Not sure year what I want but I’m thinking witch or pirate. But I want to go all out so I’ll have all the pieces for it.
Ashley O says
Well first I sell the prior years costume(s) on Ebay. Then I purchase the new one using the $$ made on the sale. Win – Win!
Vy says
We have a costume box where we keep all the bits and bobs from holidays prior, plus anything else that might be appropriate for dress up: a cool scarf, costume jewelry, rubber swords, old wigs, horse head masks (don’t ask). It so easy to create something on the fly, or at least most of it with a trip to Goodwill to supplement. One year my daughter wanted to be a character from a video game and into the box we went. Goggles, an old leather belt with many buckles, some long underwear and an old frilly dress that was three sizes too small later, we were good to go. Also fun to pull out when little kids come to visit.
We also have a “something fun” box, with tons of artsy pieces for creating (paint, pencils, stickers, construction paper, lace, feathers, etc etc). “I want to do something fun!” ((points to box))
Between the two, we’re pretty covered.
Kathie S. says
I buy my kids costumes if it is a character they have their heart set on. It is one of the things I splurge on if it something they truly want. If I buy it I try to keep it close to $20-25. My friends and I pass our kids clothes around after they have out grown them so I usually only buy socks, underwear and sneakers for my daughter. So to me, I can’t say the price of the costume will break me as her entire wardrobe is free. She’s worn hand me down costumes for 3 years and was as happy as could be. For the past few years my son, now that he’s older, prefers to make his own costume to customize it to his liking. This year though my husband went all out and found an Elsa costume for our five year old. She is over the moon! I’m sure she’ll get lots of use out of it as they both love dress up and wear the costumes until they out grow them.
Teresa A says
My kids are teens now, but loved loved loved dress up when they were smaller. I overspent many times on the coolest dinosaur costumes from Disney Store, tons of cool ones at Costco that were animals (Dumbo my fav) and definitely hit the 75% off after halloween for fill in ones. They had an entire trunk of outfits from age 1 until about 10. Then I sold the entire loot for a nice return on my work and the costumes still live on with the gal that bought them and her sisters kids. Was worth every dime, the time goes so fast and now in High school I’d do it all again instead of looking at college fees! A few SAT study courses and those costumes seem CHEAP….hahah and so much cuter.
Kayla says
I made my kids’ costumes every year so far. We try to do Halloween as a family while the kids are still little enough to enjoy it. Last year we were the Incredibles because we were the perfect family size including a baby with mohawk. This year, I made characters from Super Mario. My daughter wanted to be a princess and the boys are Mario and Luigi. I even made a great Bowser costume for my husband. I try to make their trick-or-treat bags that match. We can not afford to spend $30 on all our costumes, let alone just one. Ish.
Heather says
Well this year Elsa was in the running and then my daughter found out about those darn turtles. Now she is Donatello, which I bought in July for half off! I figured Halloween vs play dress up either way it will get used. Two years ago I spent a boat load of cash on a Tinkerbell costume and come the time for Halloween our girl wanted to be a Bat Girl…not from the batman franchise, but a baseball girl. She wore pants tucked into socks, her sneakers, her Mariners jersey and my oversized baseball hat and her glove. My tomboy was thrilled with her look!
Practical Parsimony says
Okay, my children were born in ’68, ’70, and ’75, so this is old. I never bought a costume. One year, I had made my two year old a long dress for church and just for fun. I threw together a little red cape and gave her a basket to be Little Red Riding Hood. I talked excitably about whatever I planned for them. They love dressing up and going to get candy. For the baby who was less that one month old, I put her in a little soft terry sleeper and made a little bonnet with ears. I safety pinned a cotton ball to her bottom. She was a peaceful, floppy baby, and just slept through it all. She also won a prize as youngest in costume. She was not floppy in a medically scary way, just so calm. We did Wonder Woman, The Fonz, and lots of fun generic costumes–cowboy, cowgirl, etc, Devil.
Amanda says
We try to limit our costume spending to no more than $20 total for two kids. Some years it is much less. In the past I’ve had great luck finding gently used costumes for a few dollars each, and I would just pull them out and let my kids choose from the pile. This year my son wanted to be a specific super hero. Last year he was a ghost which cost nothing. The price for the flimsy super hero costume that looks like it will rip the first time he wears it was $35. That was too much for me to justify spending on a costume, and we left the store empty-handed. I sold several costumes that my kids had outgrown. I found a different costume of the same superhero that looked a little more sturdy, so it can hopefully be used another year, and waited until it was on sale for around $20. I also had a giftcard to that store, so I ended up paying nothing out of pocket. Luckily, little brother was thrilled to wear one of the costumes we already had on hand. It will probably be his turn next year to pick out the new costume, and big brother will have to be creative, wear something we already have, or raise some of his own funds if he insists on a new/expensive costume.