#1 Shop for Halloween decor during off seasons

This should be pretty obvious, but there are some serious discounts on Halloween home accents during the week of Christmas. We’re talking 75-90% off.

#2 Avoid Tacky Chain Stores

Though stores like Party City, Spirit of Halloween, and Halloween City offer a wide variety of costumes for adults and children, please keep in mind that these costumes are often not economically sourced and are in fact made with incredibly flammable and toxic materials. On top of all of that, the SFX materials available in chain stores are likely cheap and less effective than those from a local shop. You’ll wind up spending more money each year replacing basic materials such as paint and liquid latex.

#3 Buy Wholesale Latex

If you’re seriously into SFX, consider striking a deal on materials with your local makeup or costume supplier. Last year, I purchased this 1 gallon bottle of Liquid Latex from a family owned and operated shop called Frazetta’s Costumes for $75. A 16 fl oz bottle of LL costs nearly $40 online without shipping accounted for, and a 1 gallon bottle of LL costs over $100. Costume Shop owners are often willing to let go of supplies they have in mass quantities, like Liquid Latex.

# 4 Avoid Professional Materials

Smooth-On, Inc. is a leading company in Mold Making & Casting Materials for Special FX in Hollywood films, television shows and even Broadway musicals. The materials they offer are available for purchase by Special FX artists in-person at the headquarters showroom, or online here. Their artists are absolutely incredible and I would never discourage anyone in SFX to avoid them entirely. But the purpose of this article is to help save you money, and Smooth On will not help you do that. Try also to avoid purchasing expensive SFX materials from your local craft store. Next, we’ll go over some cheaper options for materials.

# 5 Use Plaster of Paris

Remember art class in middle school? When your teachers finally let you move from sculpting boring old modeling clay to crafting wire structures and covering them in plaster of Paris. Perhaps you’re also familiar with plaster gauze, which is essentially a roll of gauze that has been soaked in plaster and dried. It is water-activated and can be used to create an inexpensive mold for a cast of the face, hands, legs, arms, etc. Plaster of Paris is essentially safe to use on the skin as long as you are sure to protect any fine hairs with Vaseline or another generic petroleum jelly.

# 6 Avoid Buying Props

Halloween and Costume Shop-purchased props are often tempting for those last minute additions to your costume. But there are most likely a few items lying around your home that you can create props with. Use masking tape, wire from a coat hanger or craft store, and liquid latex, you can create realistic props like these severed ears by FakeUpCreations. Other materials I often use in making props are cardboard, foam board, q-tips, and cotton balls.

# 7 Use Alcohol-Activated Paints

Acrylic and oil paints can be incredibly high in price and they often don’t work as well as alcohol-activated paints on latex or skin. Many dollar store eye-shadows, blushes, and powder foundations are alcohol-activated. Using this type paint also allows you to maintain control over color pigment.