How do you save money on a kid's Halloween costume?

If I had kids they would all be going as ghosts with no eyes... (bedsheets)

My son's costume this year is mostly things he can use after Halloween. His pants can be worn to school and the shirt I might be able to get the tape back off so, he can wear it too. My daughters costume only cost me a few dollars of things she cannot use after Halloween. Sometimes you can get costumes for really cheap after Halloween, but you never know what the kids are going to be into the following year.

I seen some cute ones at Family Dollar for $6. I am sure you will have to buy early to get one though.

You are right, you can buy halloween costumes after halloween for practically nothing. I have done this in the past and it worked out really well. You can also just put something together from what you have at home. I remember wearing my moms robe, slippers and having my hair put in curlers and going out trick or treating as a kid. It is also easy to make a hobo costume, just mismatch clothes and put some black marks on your face. The Salvation Army is also a good place to go and find some costumes and also the dollar store to pick up accessories.

How about going to Goodwill I was in there today and they had a whole bunch of new looking costumes for pennies on the dollar you might try there.

Call all the GoodWill, Salvation Army and other thrift shops in your area. They are listed in the phone book. Ask if they have any costumes. If they do, go check them out. We see great ones here locally. Plus - look at some weird clothes that are sold. Tuxedo jackets, weird boots, hats, purses, etc. You can make some fun costumes with them. You can cut stencils out of kraft paper and lay over a plain t-shirt. Just spray with regular canned spray paint. Tell your kiddo how you are going to do this and let them draw up their own ideas. "WORLD X-BOX CHAMP" Big cat face, etc. Fun, cheap and your kid will use their brain.

When I was a kid we always made our costumes from things that were already in the house. We never bought a costume, in our lives!! We dind't rent them either.

Both of those ideas are good, part of the fun is making your costume out of things you find around the house. Several years ago, the neighborhood kids made their own costumes out of things from everyone's house. My son was an I-pod, another was a cell-phone, one a computer...etc. The technology gang was a hit. You can also visit your local thrift store and pick up clothes and costumes very cheap. Whatever you do, just have fun and be creative. It's a great way to get your kids to show their artistic talent.

If I had kids I would either get material for them to make one....and I have made costumes from material before...it's not too hard and you do not need a sewing machine (but it would be faster)....or you can take them to thrift stores so they can pick out their own costume out of the clothes.... Too me costumes are always better with creativity....plus think about how much you spend on the chinzy little costume in the package.... I've made a Pebbles costume out of really soft fuzzy leapord material....inclusing with a papier mache bone, I've made a devil costume out of sequined material I bought out of Walmarts discount bin in materials....all I had to buy was the horns and tail.....Plus I've made numerous other costumes from clothing I bought and altered in different ways. In other words you can take that $20 dollars and strecth it to even more accesories for the costume.... I know not everyone is crafty, but you can learn to be. My mother and my aunt were the ones I got this from. My fav costume my aunt made form scratch was a robinhood costume she dressed up when I was a kid. It was awesome.... Happy Halloween. Yeah.