Bargain Hunters Reveal 6 Hacks For £2.50 Halloween Costumes
- Halloween costumes can easily become expensive
- LatestDeals.co.uk members have come up with some money-saving hacks
- Tricks include buying from second-hand marketplaces and charity shops
- Top bargains include a £2 girls’ costume and a £3.50 two for one deal
Whether it’s a night of trick or treating, a fancy dress competition at school or a party you forgot about until the last minute, many of us have ended up scrambling for a costume - and ended up either making something that looks a bit dodgy or paying way too much at short notice.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to grab a bargain - with prices as low as £2.50 if you play your cards right. Members of money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk offer their top tricks to pick up a discounted costume and look great for Halloween.
Browse the budget stores
There are plenty of decent options on offer on the high street. Diane Oderlap said: ‘Home Bargains are doing the best value costumes in my opinion.’ Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, added: ‘Discount stores are great places to find a bargain costume. We’ve had plenty of deals coming in lately on the LatestDeals.co.uk site - for example, there’s a Frankie Stein costume for girls available for just £2 from Poundshop, and select costumes at B&M are half price at the moment.
‘It can be surprisingly easy to put together an outfit simply by picking up some individual items which aren’t Halloween themed and combining them at home with a vision in mind. For example, a men’s button down shirt can quickly become a lab coat with spooky blood stains, or the torn garment of a zombie hungry for brains…’
Check out online marketplaces
If you’re a fan of online auctions, bidding on items and picking up second hand gems, online marketplaces may be the perfect place for a spot of Halloween shopping. Paige Duncan said: ‘I got my daughter a costume off Vinted for £2.50 and added postage, bringing it to £5 altogether. She is only 2 so I don’t want to buy a new costume to wreck!’ Kerry Gilbert added: ‘My son is gonna be a zombie hippie - the one out of Plants vs Zombies. The costume was being given away free on Shpock, new too.’
Chloe Bourne said: ‘My kids are going as Chucky and Tiffany - got a bargain handmade Chucky costume off eBay.’ Tom commented: ‘Online marketplaces are a great way to pick up costumes at a discounted price, as sellers will be wanting to get rid of fancy dress they aren’t using anymore or their kids have grown out of. When you search for Halloween costumes on eBay for example, you can click on the price filter to view options under £9 - and many also include free postage!’
Start browsing well in advance
It never hurts to begin scouring the shops for festive discounts earlier in the year. Melanie Wallwork said: ‘I started looking about three months before Halloween for children’s ones.’ Abi Morley gave a tip for those looking to get the best discounts ahead of time: ‘If you search the generic term rather than a specific character you get better deals. My 11 year old wants to be Freddie Krueger and I ordered a cheap dress up brush hat and gloves using this method.’
Tom said: ‘Nothing beats the good old-fashioned trick of shopping in advance. Especially with seasonal events like Halloween, it always pays off to be first in line and avoid shelling out extra for a last minute costume. I’ve found clothes suitable for Halloween and Christmas tucked away in big department stores at bargain prices during the summer months!’
Snap up deals quickly
If you find a great bargain, grab it before someone else does! Louise Hull said: ‘My five year old daughter is Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas. Found a reduced costume in Sainsburys a few weeks back so it cost me 5 pounds.’ Melanie Wallwork added: ‘You can get a Smiffy’s Elephant Costume for adults for £18, but there’s only one of most of these items so it’s a case of being quick to get them.’
Tom commented: ‘Another way to pick up quick bargains is to check out the Amazon Outlet. This is where overstocked products are offered at discounted prices. Simply type in your search term and surplus stock will be shown .For example, I found a red kids’ cloak for just £7.19, reduced from £8.99 - with free shipping! However, I was advised to check out quickly, as there were only two left in stock.’
Check out your local charity shop
A high street favourite when it comes to bargain books, clothes and trinkets, charity shops can also be goldmines for Halloween costumes. Samantha Goodship said: ‘I got a witch costume for £1.99 in the charity shop a few weeks ago.’ Kirsten Baxter said: ‘I bought two of my grandchildren’s costumes from a church charity shop today - £3.50 for two, plus a mask.’
Tom said: ‘I’ve found that the best way to pull together bargain costumes from charity shops is to have several ideas in mind. Visit several stores during your search and compile several pieces to make the perfect unique outfit. Keep your ideas realistic - it will be easy to become a zombie, witch or evil doctor - but a little harder to turn some second hand items into a branded costume from a top movie or TV show.’
Buy costumes once the season is over
Avoid the festive frenzy and dig into the discounts once the big event is over. Sarah Straker said: ‘I usually buy my costumes after Halloween for the following year. They’re always half price.’ Lucy Hayward added: ‘I buy them on 1st November for the following year...They’re pennies then so I have a pick of something I wouldn’t usually buy at the original price.’
Tom advised: ‘Once big events like Halloween are coming to an end, many stores will want to shift their stock to make way for new products. This is why early November is the perfect time to pick up Halloween costumes, as you will be able to grab the biggest discounts!’
Save More With These Discount Codes
Read More Money Saving Guides