Frugal Halloween Costumes
by Kim Tilley

Using Items Your Kids Already Have:Take a look through your child's closet- you may be surprised at the possibilities! I like to collect dress up clothes throughout the year for the kids to play in. These make a wonderful resource for busy fall days, when Halloween sneaks up on you. We have found costume pieces for very cheap or free from second-hand used clothing stores, garage sales, and thrift shops. I like to keep a collection of hats, shirts and the occassional superhero cape around. The kids come up with wilder outfits than I could ever dream up!

Here's some more ideas from your kids closets...

Overalls

Paul Bunyan/lumberjack-add a flannel shirt, boots, and a plastic fireman's axe (from a dress-up set). Blue oxes are pretty hard to find, but you could use a blue stuffed animal. Add a black cap for that Canadian lumberjack look.

Farmer -overalls, galoshes, straw hat, flannel shirt. Could carry a stuffed farm animal, plastic pitchfork or toy tractor.

Scarecrow-such as cute look for little kids! Same as farmer, except paint a red triangle on your child's nose and attach raffia to the cuffs of the sleeves and pants. I simply tied the raffia around my child's wrists and ankles. This was one of the cutest, easiest costumes we ever did, and Beau did not mind the painted nose.

Sports Uniforms

Athlete-dress up your kids in their sports uniforms and let them go as a famous baseball/football/basketball/hockey player. They could also borrow an older sibling's sports uniform.

Pajamas

Whenever my kids get new pajamas, we make sure to get the superhero kind that can double as Halloween costumes. Easy, and you don't have to change them for bedtime, after they have passed out from exhaustion and have come down from their sugar high!

Cowgirl Kelsey, Engineer Beau and Super Sean

Kim Tilley's little scarecrow.