Why Money Matters

Rubbing Pennies started as a personal challenge to save $10,000 in one calendar year. As a young couple, we (Ian and Jen) know how important it is to live within your means, avoid acquiring a lot of debt and have a healthy financial cushion to fall on in case of emergency. On April 10, 2010, we set out on the journey of marriage with two steady incomes, a newly purchased home, one vehicle payment, and a very modest savings account. In an effort to beef up our piggy bank, we launched Rubbing Pennies in January 2012. This is our story of how we love the life we live, and how we can afford it.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Homemade Halloween

   Halloween costumes from the party store or even Wal-mart can be expensive and they are made like crap. Of course you can always order your high-quality, custom Halloween costumes from Etsy for $250. (Shreek) I suggest getting creative, buying material or parts and pieces from thrift stores  to make your own at home. I did exactly that for Grady's first Halloween. We were the Neverland gang - Peter Pan, Tinkerbell and Captain Hook.
   Grady's Pan costume: I bought a small amount of green jersey knit material ($3), a roll of paracord for the lace on his tunic and to make his belt out of ($4). I bought a little toy knife at Target ($6) - which he'll play with for years I'm sure. Using a shirt that currently fits him, I traced the material to form a tunic style. Cut along the lines and sewed with a simple stitch on my Singer. Snipped little holes in the v-neck cut and threaded the cord.


   Originally, I really wanted a green elf-style hat like Pan wears but I looked high and low and gave up when I couldn't find one. While digging through by sewing bin, I found some old Christmas stocking material in the perfect color green. It was literally just a scrap but large enough to make a child's head sized triangle. Score! I cut a triangle with a rounded bottom, sewed 2 sides and flipped it inside out. Done. This perfect little hat was FREE and my favorite part of the costume!  

 
Here is the finished product! A pretty sweet little Peter Pan costume!
 
 
 
   My Tinkerbell costume: I bought 4 rolls of green tulle on sale to make a tutu. I had elastic for the waistband already. As motherhood would have it, I ran out of time and energy to make my tutu and abandoned this part of the costume. I returned the tulle and got my $16 back. I had a green sundress that worked just fine for a mom Tinkerbell costume. I did buy white glittery wings at Target for $8. I snagged a very comfy, broken-in pair of flats from the thriftstore (because if I have to walk around the neighborhood all night I don't want sore feet and blisters) and spraypainted them mint green. At Hobby Lobby I found these awesome pom poms perfect for Tinkerbell shoes! Altogether the shoes, paint and poms were $12. I swear I will wear them to Disney one day and be the envy of every other cool mom.



   Ian's Hook costume: This was pretty easy. I found a red winter coat at Good Will for $5. I had seamstress tape (you iron and it sticks) and bought a roll of black velvet ribbon for $2.50. I added the black velvet trim. It looked **sort of** like a pirate coat but not exactly since I ran out of time and never got the giant gold buttons to finish it off. He didn't wear it. (I am committed to finishing the pirate coat and he WILL wear it for a future Halloween!) I had a few pieces of black material I ripped into strips to make a dew rag and sash. Bought a pirate hat at Target for $10. I had a heavy duty gold costume jewelry chain that looked like Mr. T. or a pirate. He agreed to wear that since he would not wear the coat.
The finished product - the Neverland Gang!