A U.K. mom said she found Halloween costumes for as little as a quarter of their original price by turning to secondhand items. For families trying to keep up with spooky-season plans, those savings can add up quickly.
Here's what to know
Halloween has become a much bigger occasion in the United Kingdom, with more families buying costumes, decorations, and tickets to seasonal attractions.
According to BBC News, it has even become "more important than Christmas for some attractions and retailers." A survey found 36% of shoppers intended to celebrate it. In 2025, that percentage hovered at just 27.
For Birmingham mom Mandy Thomas, the cost of keeping up with Halloween plans became a budgeting issue when her daughters were younger.
"There would be a school event, trick-or-treating, and a friend's party, and they didn't want to dress up as the same thing every time," Thomas told the BBC.
So, rather than buy a new costume every time, she checked resale apps and social media groups where people trade outfits.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
"A friend put me onto these Facebook groups where people swap or sell costumes really cheaply," she told the BBC. "When one of them wants to be a specific character, I search eBay or Vinted, and I usually spend a quarter of the original price."
More background
At the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals charity shop in Coundon, Coventry, staff hold back suitable donations for Halloween as they come in during the year, manager Ellya Hayden said. "We know that at Halloween and Christmas there's going to be lots of buying going on, and people prefer to cut costs by shopping in charity shops," she told the BBC.
Some costumes sell for £1.50 ($1.98), and unopened items are often priced at a quarter of their retail costs.
That kind of pricing can make secondhand shopping appealing for Halloween outfits and everyday items when household budgets are under pressure.
Hayden said the conversation is also about waste. "It's really important to reuse and recycle costumes. We try to repair items where we can so they can have multiple lives," she said, per the BBC.
What can be done?
Three common approaches are using swap groups, visiting charity shops and thrift stores, and making homemade costumes.
When a specific costume was needed, Thomas said Facebook groups, eBay, and Vinted helped her spend far less than she would have on a new costume.
Cov Cloth founder Adele Harrison leads Coventry workshops wherein children and parents use discarded textiles and household materials to make Halloween costumes, accessories, and decorations.
Even outside a workshop setting, Harrison said the same approach can work with items such as worn tights, empty cereal cartons, and castoff clothes. "Our message is: Before heading to the shops, use what you already have," Harrison said, per the BBC. "Get creative, save some money, and let your children see how brilliant they are."
Families looking to stretch their budgets year-round can also explore shopping at thrift stores for low-cost basics and one-of-a-kind finds.
Where can I learn more?
For families trying to keep costume costs down, these stories look at secondhand shopping and creative reuse.
• On TikTok, one creator turned a thrifted Spider-Man look into a fan favorite.
• Across the U.S., shoppers say thrifting went mainstream as bargain prices became harder to find.
• On TikTok, a sustainable fashion post left viewers saying they "need to go thrifting."
• One TikToker's playful haul showed just how many cute thrift finds turn up secondhand.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
