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How to Save on Halloween Costumes

By WTOP Staff

At first glance, the price tag on that Halloween costume that your son or daughter is requesting can be just as scary as the latest horror movie. It seems like there’s no way to give your kids the Halloween they want and deserve without forking over much more than you’re comfortable spending. But there are a handful of strategies you can apply to the holiday so you spend less, delight your trick-or-treaters and still have money left over for candy.

Swap costumes instead of scary stories:

Take inventory of last year’s costumes and get together with your neighbors and friends for a swap meet. You can start an email thread or a Facebook group to share photos and sizes with other parents to see what everyone has available, and you might luck out and find the perfect costume in the right size. This works well for parents of toddlers and children that are too young to have a specific preference for a type of costume.

You might even find bigger costume swaps happening in your community at a church or recreational center. Check your local event calendars or bulletin boards to find something in your area.

Take a DIY approach for trendy costumes:

Chances are that at one point in their childhood, your children will idolize a popular character from a movie or TV show — along with every other kid at school. You can bet there will be more than a few ice queens and snowmen ringing doorbells this year! Trendy costumes sell out quickly, and even if you can find them at the store, it will be hard to find them on sale because their popularity means people will be willing to pay a higher price.

Instead of embarking on a never-ending search or shelling out too much money, make your own version of a trendy costume. Print out a photo of the character and take note of each piece of the costume, then gather inventory of odds and ends at home you might already have. Once you figure out what you still need, shop at the dollar store, craft store and other value retailers to get the rest. Make sure you search and print coupons before heading to the store.

If the idea of making your own costume is intimidating, search on Pinterest and blogs for easy, inexpensive step-by-step guides. YouTube also has great tutorials on makeup and costumes in any genre.

Check out the thrift store:

Check out the thrift store to find barely worn costumes at a low cost. Whether you’re looking for a full costume or individual pieces to put together your own, you can find plenty of options at gently worn clothing shops if you just do a little digging. Involve the kids and have a fun scavenger hunt for the day: Challenge them to come up with ideas and search for pieces to make their own costumes. A few easy ideas: a scarecrow (flannel shirt, jeans and a straw hat), a cowboy or girl (checkered shirt, boots and a hat) or just collect items from any decade for an easy theme.

Take advantage of sales, coupon codes and cash back:

If you’re short on time, or your child won’t settle for anything but a specific costume, there are still ways to cut costs. Try on costumes in the store to make sure you know the right size and type (take note of the model number, too), and then head online to make your purchase. Comparison shop across different websites to find the lowest price, and search for coupon codes to get additional savings. You can also click through a cash back website first to earn a percentage back on your purchase.

Think ahead to next year:

While you’re preparing for this year’s Halloween costumes, think ahead to next year. What items can be used again? Fairy wings can be used across a number of costumes; the same goes with capes, tights or a superhero mask. The less specific the items, the more use you will get out of them year after year. Head out in November and take advantage of the serious discounts as stores quickly try to clear their shelves for holiday merchandise.

More from U.S. News

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How to Save on Halloween Costumes originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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