MoneySaver: Saving on Halloween costumes and decorations
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Halloween is just around the corner and before you shell out for costumes or decorations, Consumer Expert Andrea Woroch says pull out your old costumes and head to your local consignment or thrift shop.
"If you go to your local consignment store, now is a really great time to unload those items and make some cash back towards your new Halloween purchases," explained Woroch.
"You're looking at about a 90-percent savings. You're paying a fraction of the price that you would buying new," said Woroch.
Woroch said shoppers should also compare shop online and the sooner the better.
"There's a site called threadup.com that specializes on gently used children and women's clothes, specifically and they have a lot of costume items. Costumediscounters.com is also a great site to find inexpensive and reduced prices on various costumes," said Woroch.
Costumekingdom.com is another site recommended by Woroch, who stresses shoppers should compare shop online to get the best deal. Woroch also points out, Couponsherpa.com has a category page for Halloween costume coupons.
And, Halloween costumes can be swapped with a little organization between friends or a local community group.
If you are looking to decorate your lawn, Woroch says your computer is also key to saving.
"Go to Pinterest.com," said Woroch. "They have so many do-it-yourself ideas that are really fun. You can decorate your door with paper and make it look like a pumpkin or a monster. You can use your clothes and stuff it to make it look like a scarecrow. There are so many thing you can do to make your lawn look spooky or just festive for the holidays without spending a lot of money."
Woroch says prices for decorations tend to drop just before Halloween, but it's the opposite for costumes, the sooner you plan for that the better.
