Halloween is the second largest commercial holiday in the US. Americans spend over $5 billion dollars annually on Halloween alone. What is it about Halloween that makes it so popular? Is it the dressing up? The lollies? Or perhaps the mystery that comes with it? Whatever it is, it’s something kids, especially, look forward to and adults prepare for (costume wise and budget wise).
In Australia, Halloween is not a nationwide public holiday but has now become an increasingly popular occasion. What was once considered a tacky American only tradition is becoming an annual excuse to binge on sweets in many Aussie households.
But every year, the costumes and other Halloween stuff add up to your pile of clutter and takes up so much space at home. Before you think of throwing them away, consider the 5 tips below:
#1: Halloween in Australia is here to stay
In 2015, Dr. Mark Ryan, a senior lecturer in the creative industries faculty at the Queensland University of Technology said that over the last five years or so, Halloween is becoming more accepted and more a mainstream cultural practice. Companies and schools decorate and hold annual Halloween parties and groups of children dress up for trick or treat. The rising popularity of Halloween in the country is also reflected in the sales increases at major retail chain, crafts and costumes shops. It’s a guarantee that someone will be needing a new costume every year.
#2: Get Value for Your Money
You’ve must have spent at least $20-$40 (or more) on your kid’s or on your own costume for a one day event. Throwing it away will not get your money’s worth. Your kids would most probably outgrow these costumes and you wouldn’t want to wear the same thing again next year. Just hold on to it a little longer and keep on reading. You might just get more than what you originally paid for.
#3: Be Proud of Your Masterpiece
Halloween is a perfect opportunity to be creative. If you were in a tight budget and decided to create your own costumes from scratch, give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. Even though you didn’t spend much (or none at all) on this year’s ‘The Mummy Returns’ inspired costume (made from teared up old white bed sheets, a tin of shoe polish and a few safety pins), remember that you’ve exerted a lot of time and effort on it. Remember, recycling and reusing old stuff at home is not just budget-friendly but environment friendly too.
#4: Practice Costume Sharing
You must have tried borrowing someone else’s costume (especially when you’re too busy to prepare for it), traded yours to others in school and office or worn hand-me-downs from family members, relatives or close friends. Keep that costume that you have on hand so you’ll have something in exchange for a different one next year.
#5: Start Earning From It
So you have a pile of Halloween costumes and stuff, you might have also discovered that creative monster in you and of course, you want to get your money’s worth on those costumes you bought. Take advantage of the costume sharing community you have in your neighborhood. Start buying old costumes, then resell them or rent them out. You can also offer your DIY costumes as exclusive items they cannot find anywhere else. You can put them on display on a garage sale 1-2 weeks before Halloween or better yet, take pictures and create an online costume sharing store.
Whatever you choose to do, you can always come up with better alternatives of disposing of or keeping your Halloween stuff. If you need extra storage space for these items, let Spacer connect you to the people with spare space near your community. Happy Halloween!
Source(s):
Bibleinfo.com, http://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/it-wrong-celebrate-halloween
Halloween Australia, http://www.halloween-australia.com/
The Sydney Morning Herald, http://www.smh.com.au/business/retail/halloweens-rising-popularity-in-australia-is-scary-business-for-retail-chains-20161020-gs6mfk.html
The Huffington Post Australia, http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2015/10/26/halloween-in-australia_n_8386002.html
