The Costume Reveal!

I'm considered pretty stingy when it comes to buying costumes. I just can't bring myself to spend money on costumes that can't be worn again as regular clothes, so I always try to be as creative and frugal as possible. And even though we were unable to raid the "dress-up box" this year, we ended up spending only $1 on "costumes" this year, which was the cost of Joely's costume that came from a neighbor's garage sale this summer. I'm amazed we got off so cheap this year, especially since I think their costumes turned out better than just about any previous year.

Even Jerah's costume was cheap since the shirt and pants were hand-me-downs from a friend, and the vest was mine, one I picked up new for only $1 this summer. Oh yeah, and the boots came from another neighbor's garage sale last summer for $1. Everything in her outfit is completely re-wearable (although I'm not really fond of the pants!)

Jaden's costume is, of course, the easiest to reuse, since it's only sweatpants, a jacket, and a turtleneck. How much easier could that be?

So here are the kids, bedecked in this year's costumes. Jaden was a ninja (his third year in a row as a ninja—his imagination seems to be stagnating in his "old" age), Jerah was a pirate, AKA "Jack-leen" Sparrow, and Joely was (obviously) Raggedy Ann.