A Ghoulishly Affordable Halloween

October 27th, 2011 | by ashley gordon |

Ah, how to look awesome at that Halloween party this weekend without dropping a bunch of cash on a costume? Thinking ahead can lead to some bloody good online deals. But you can also get your Halloween for less at the last minute with a little creativity and some help from your friends. Here is how:

Cost-Conscious Costumes
1. Get your mask on. Instead of putting together an elaborate full-body costume, why not buy a mask, sport a black dress or suit and call it done.
2. Think accessories. Be a nerd, scarecrow, old lady, American tourist or a zombie by using inexpensive thrift store clothes or raiding your own closet. Makeup or a few accessories seal the deal.
3. Zombies are in. White and black face makeup and an old outfit or dress you can shred will do it. Fake blood is icing on the cake.
4. Get crafty. Cardboard boxes, old sheets, paints and makeup can be the basis for hundreds of original costumes.

More Party for Less
1. Potluck it—spooky-style. Making a few specialty dishes and having friends bring others keeps costs down.
2. Go punch. Cheaper than alcohol and individual drinks in most cases, soda recipes like this one are spooky, tasty and cheap.
3. Movie mayhem. Throw an impromptu horror movie night with friends.
4. Bake it. There are tons of devilish Halloween recipes out there. Look for those with lots of servings and inexpensive ingredients.

Scary Cheap Decorations
1. Candelabras. Grab extras at a thrift store, some candles and you’re good.
2. Black and orange balloons. They’re festive without costing as much as dry ice or more elaborate decorations.
3. Paper tombstones, fall leaves, fake cobwebs, stuffed scarecrows or witches, fake blood and food coloring are all you need.
4. Use last year’s decorations. You can get a jump on next year by shopping sales next week.

Bottom line: getting your Halloween on doesn’t have to cost you big. For more on living well on a budget, check out the Money Scene series on PracticalMoney Skills.com.

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