Momadvice.com had some good tips on saving on Halloween costumes for kids:

Consider trading or borrowing costumes from other families, so your kids can have a cool, 'new' costume each year without the sticker shock.

Consider costume shopping in your home closets. What clothes do you own that could be temporarily re-purposed as a costume? Consider sports uniforms, jewelry, motorcycle helmets, and name badges. An apron, mixing bowl, and spoon are the key ingredients to a good chef's uniform, and there is always the classic stand-by - the bedsheet ghost!

If you have to buy pieces for a costume, try to buy things that can be used again, such as dance class essentials for a ballerina, or a black turtleneck for a ninja.

Melissamakescents.com also suggested checking out freecycle.com and craigslist.com to see what used costumes can be found cheaply or even free, as well as shopping at thrift stores and garage sales.

She also recommends getting a jump on next year's festivities by purchasing costumes & decor for next year a day or two after this Halloween to score deep discounts.

Great tips! Here are some of our own:

Encourage older kids to be creative and make costumes instead of purchasing expensive store bought ones. Some great homemade costume ideas, organized by age, can be found on Disney's site.

Don't spend a lot on the "extras":

• Turn everyday make-up and household products into theatrical make-up (instructions are here and here).

• Use pillowcases and re-useable shopping bags as trick-or-treat bags.

• Instead of buying pricey house decorations, use inexpensive light bulbs, old clothes and household craft items to create a creepy ambiance for less.

• And just in case you spend all your time getting the kids ready, here are some creative last minute ideas for adult costumes!

Some highlights:

Consider crockpot cooking.
It saves a ton of time, and isn't just for stews and chili. There are tons of sites (like this one) that have a variety of flavorful recipes available for free.

Cook Once, Eat Twice.
Learn to use your leftovers creatively so they don't feel like a punishment! Add a few ingredients to turn them into sandwiches, quesadillas, or salads for lunch the next day.

Keep the ingredients for a few easy, 'go-to" meals that you like on hand (spaghetti, tacos, etc).

Start by taking inventory of what you already have, and then keep an updated, running list.

Use recipes sites and blogs for inspiration.
Mommysnacks.net shares her excel system and tips for keeping all her recipes organized in an accessible format. Also, check out this free downloadable grocery list from mealplanningmommies.com.

Until then, keep busy with 2 rentals for the price of one. Loved a movie? Buy 1 used DVD and get another free - access these great Cellfire deals here.

The Children

Fast Track: No Limits

Full Grown Men

It's Alive

Kevin Nealon: Now Hear Me Out!

My Life in Ruins

Rage

The Seamstress

Senseless

Seventh Moon

The Thaw

If a lot of your cash goes to eating out, going to bars and clubs, or shopping as a form of entertainment, then spend some time focusing on how you can do what you enjoy while spending less money. Can you cook with friends or your spouse as a way to spend time together? Or, go to happy hour specials and bring cash only - when your money is gone, its time to go home. What activities at home or in your community can you do for free? Be creative and find ways to do what you enjoy with a smaller price tag.

You blow your budget because you don't know what you've spent.

If you overspend because you don't realize what you've already spent this month, consider monitoring your purchases with a free online tracker like Mint (learn more about budget creation resources here).

If that's still not working, switch to cash, and keep the allotted amount of your budget in marked envelopes (such as "Dining," "Drugstore"or "miscellaneous.") Watching the cash deplete will help you make better purchase decisions (more details on Dave Ramsey's envelope method here).

Not accounting for irregular expenses.

If you didn't accurately project irregular expenses such as car registration or doctor's bills, they can throw off your entire financial plan once they occur. Build them into your monthly expenses from the beginning to help put aside money. This is called a sinking budget, and Frugaldad.com has a great explanation on how to set one up.

Your Food expenses go over every month.

It can be just as easy to overspend at the grocery store as it is in restaurants - overbuying when you're hungry, buying items that are on sale or seem interesting (but you don't really need), or buying food that will go bad before you can use it. Planning your meals ahead of time can save you a lot of time and money by streamlining your shopping purchases. There are numerous sites with lists and resources that can help you make this work for your family's needs, check them out on our blog on menu-planning next week!

You feel pinched by your budget.

If you feel frustrated or depressed by cutting your spending, it can be tempting to give up. Prioritize which expenditures you most enjoy, and research ahead of time to see if you can find ways to save on those. Cut out the spending that you do automatically, absentmindedly or because you didn't plan ahead.