The spookiest thing about Halloween has little to do with ghosts and goblins — or worse, Miley Cyrus — knocking at your door. A much more frightening scene is going down at cash registers as people prepare for the event.
Though you can’t blame a parent for wanting to fulfill a child’s costume wish, kids’ get-ups only make up a portion of the total Halloween spending. Adults will shell out more cash for their own look to the tune of $1.2 billion while 22 million pet owners plan to dress their four-legged friends for the occasion.
Regardless of who you plan to dress up this year, consider these last-minute tips for saving at the Halloween shop.
1. Wait for it.
You can expect to find bigger mark downs this week on costumes, candy and decor. However, the real deals will come on the Thursday, when these pop-up retailers are eager to offload inventory. Be prepared for crowds and long lines and get to the store early to take advantage of deals offering up to 50-percent off.
2. Seek out the sale rack.
Being picky is the biggest mistake people make when trying to save on costumes. By now, the most popular looks are pretty picked through and trendy get-ups are more expensive, so forget about finding them on sale. Instead, be open minded and ask the store clerk to point you in the direction of the sale section. After all, classic costumes are still highly coveted as this National Retail Federation survey reports.
3. Go wherever the coupon is.
Before you head out on your ultimate costume pursuit, review several Halloween store options in your area. Call around to find out which store is offering the best sale and look online to see if any coupons are available. You can also download the free mobile coupon app from Coupon Sherpa for 25-percent off your purchase at Spirit Halloween.
4. Pick up a single accessory.
There are plenty of costumes you can replicate — say, a hobo or a hippie — with clothes and items you already own. Classic looks like a witch or Dracula may need a little something more to top off the look — pointy hat or fangs, anyone? Opt for a costume that only requires a single, cheap accessory to pull off. You can likely find these items for under $10 at your local Halloween store.
5. Get rewarded.
Who doesn’t like getting rewarded for something they enjoy doing? When you head to the mall or shopping center to pick up your Halloween goods, take a few extra minutes to walk into some other stores. With the Shopkick app, you will get reward points called kicks for various shopping actions. Kicks can then be redeemed for gift cards to popular merchants like Target, Sephora and Best Buy.
6. Shop for next year.
If you braved the crowds on Halloween, the last thing you want to do is be among them again the next day. However, the day after Halloween is the best time to stock up on decor, costumes and accessories for next year. Get there Nov. 1 for the best selection and make a list so you don’t go overboard.
Guest post written by Andrea Woroch. A nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert who helps consumers live on less without radically changing their lifestyles. From smart spending tips to personal finance advice, Andrea transforms everyday consumers into savvy shoppers. She has been featured among top news outlets such as Good Morning America, NBC’s Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more. You can follow her on Twitter for daily savings advice and tips.
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