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Step 1
First you need to be aware of different types of stores. Grocery stores and craft stores like Wal Mart, Target, Garden Ridge, etc. are good for some of the cheaper more common decorations you see at Halloween and party stores that are more expensive. More importantly these stores don’t have return policies on holiday items, I will explain further down. You also have Party and Halloween stores, such as Party Galaxy, Spirit, Halloween Express that are only open during the season, which normally stop taking returns a week before Halloween. At these stores you want to get items that are not at the previous stores. They might have the exact same thing but it will most likely be at least $2-$3 more. Only get the decorations and costumes that only Party and Halloween shops have. Be careful buying some of the bigger more expensive props from here, like there animatronics that cost between $2000-$4000. The mark ups on these props are outrageous. You can normally find the same place they got it from online and realize they sell it for about $1000 cheaper.
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Step 2
Now that you know the difference between the different stores you need to decide what you can and can’t live without if you don’t get it this year. Shop around a little, to make sure you are getting it at the cheapest price possible, and go ahead and get what you need early on in the season to make sure you get it. Make sure you save the receipt. Saving the receipt is more important for stores like Wal Mart and Target since they don’t have return policies on holiday decorations.
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Step 3
Now that you have the things you do you need you just have to wait until November 1st, when most stores mark everything down to %50. If they still have the same costume or decorations you bought at full price, buy the same thing at half price. Once you have done that, you should still have the receipt for the full price costume/decoration; take the one you bought at half off back with the receipt for the full price one. This can save you a lot of money. For those who think this is immoral, trust me they have made their money and are still making money off the half price one. Some of these stores after a few weeks take everything straight to the dumpster just so they can get rid of it, so don’t feel too bad. Now don’t try to do this at the party and Halloween stores since they have strict return policies.
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Step 4
Now for the other costumes or decorations you can live without just wait until the end of the season when everything goes on clearance. The party and Halloween stores make some really good deals and you can get the decorations that aren’t that common for %50 off or less. For the other stores you can play the waiting game. A week after they mark everything down to %50 they mark it down to %75 and then about a week after that they mark it down to %90. Keep an eye on the decorations and costumes you want and make sure you don’t wait too long or they might not make it to the final marked down price. When the %50 price hits that would be the best time to get costumes, for next year, to make sure you get the one you want.
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Step 5
Once you get the hang of it you can get some really great deals where you get everything you want plus more and you still spend less than what you would have spent on the few items you needed. Hope you enjoy this article and save lots of money. Happy Halloween
