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Here’s Where You Can Get Halloween Costumes for Cheap

By U.S. News & World Report

Halloween is right around the corner, and now is the perfect time to start thinking of a great costume. With all the fun that comes with dressing up, shopping for a costume can be more expensive than you anticipated. Luckily you can find a costume for a low price — maybe even for free — by knowing these money-saving tips.

[See: 9 Scary Things Consumers Do With Their Money.]

DIY costumes. One of the best ways to find a Halloween costume on a tight budget is to simply make one yourself. Do-it-yourself costumes are cheap to make and give you the freedom to create a costume you might not typically find at a store. With the help of old clothing, everyday household items and a few inexpensive odds and ends, you can put together a costume without paying full price for something store-bought. Need a DIY costume idea? Search for “easy DIY costumes” in Pinterest, and you’ll be amazed at what you find.

Dollar store. For items you don’t already own, visit your local dollar store to pick up a few extra things. Even small items, such as gloves and glitter, are priced higher during the Halloween season. It can be frustrating to pay so much for something you most likely will only use for one day. Instead, find similar items for as low as a dollar. Both Dollar Tree and Family Dollar are perfect choices to find odds and ends with a reasonable price tag. From add-on accessories and face paint to full costumes, it’s worth a look at the dollar store to see what’s available.

[See: 10 Frugal Ways to Save This Fall.]

Costume swapping with friends. Know someone who had an awesome costume last year? How about doing a costume swap? Instead of spending any money on a new costume, trade your old getups to a friend or family member. For kids’ costumes, have a swap with parents who have similarly aged children. The great part is that even if you can’t find an exact match in size, you can usually make a few small adjustments to a costume, so it’s more suitable for your child. For instance, you can use all the same accessories of a swapped costume and substitute a shirt of your own. If you have children of different ages, you can save every year on costumes by handing them down as they grow out of their sizes.

Thrift and consignment stores. Thrift stores are another smart choice for those who don’t mind wearing something previously worn. Not only can you save money, but thrift stores offer plenty of unique goods and gadgets to spruce up your costume even more. At thrift stores, a little searching can reveal plenty of clothing in good shape at rock-bottom prices. For more savings, bring along some clothing that you no longer wear to a consignment store. Similar to thrift stores, consignment stores resell gently used items for lower prices. But unlike thrift stores, consignment stores pay you in exchange for your items, so you will immediately get some extra cash right before you start shopping.

[See: 25 Fast Financial Fixes.]

Cheap Halloween stores. If you don’t have time to make your own costume or shop at multiple locations to find everything you need, try stores that already sell complete costumes for a low price. Stores like Amazon and Wal-Mart sell a variety of costumes for all ages at reduced prices. You can also visit a party-themed store, such as Party City, which not only has a huge selection of costumes, but also decorations and treats. Seasonal stores, such as Spirit Halloween and Halloween Express, are exclusively dedicated to providing you with Halloween costumes and accessories. For savings at these stores, look online for coupon codes and shop through cash-back websites to get back a percentage of the money you spent on your costume.

Halloween is all about having a good time. Thinking about how much money you may need to spend can take away from the enjoyment. If you try any of these tips, you can save money, worry less and impress everyone with your costume on one of the most fun days of the year.

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Here’s Where You Can Get Halloween Costumes for Cheap 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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