Dressing up for Halloween doesn’t have to scare you, your bank account or the rubbish bin!

Halloween is a scary time of year, not just because of the witches and ghosts roaming around trick-or-treating!  

Did you know that Halloween puts a massive strain on the environment? A recent survey of retailers found that almost 2,000 tonnes of waste is created when it comes to Halloween costumes and other products.   

Many families find that once November 1st rolls around, the bin is stuffed full of unwanted knick-knacks, and the costume that your child loved just a day ago is consigned to the back of the wardrobe, never to be worn again.   

As well as this, we are all feeling the pinch more than ever. Halloween often ends up costing families precious cash that they don’t need to spend, especially when household costs are rising faster than a witch whizzing up to the sky on her trusty broomstick.   

If you still want to join in the Halloween fun without the waste – both environmental and financial – here are a few tips for making costumes that are both low-waste and low-cost.  

Raid your cupboards

See what you can pull together with things you already own.  

Take a charity shop trip  

Short on something? Take a look at what your local charity shops have to offer.  

Get crafty

It’s easy to make accessories and simple alterations with what you have in your drawers or recycling.  

If you do buy new, buy something adaptable  

Rather than splashing out on costumes that will be worn once, make use of basics that can be worn on a day-to-day basis.  

Rummage through your make-up bag  

Got any old lipsticks or eyeshadows that are lying unused and unloved at the back of a drawer? Use these to make spooky faces rather than buying face paints!