5 ways to save on Purim costumes for children (even if you can't sew a stitch)

As I've mentioned already, one of the best ways to save on just about anything is to time your purchases so you're not captive to salespeople who can almost smell your desperation and capitalize on it. One such particular seasonal item, which by being prepared can save you lots of money, is the Purim costume. Or, if you have several kids, make that costumes.

When I was a kid, your average Purim costume meant you slapped on some of your mother's makeup, wore the long gown said mother bought you for some relative's wedding, and passed your getup off as Queen Esther. Unfortunately, nowadays, that won't work on any child old enough to go to gan. Some costumes, especially if your child has his or her heart set upon being a Disney or other merchandised character for Purim, can set you back over NIS 100 - which in my book, is kind of steep for an outfit to be worn for 2-3 days max (wedding attire excepted, of course).  If you have more than one child, and especially, the older the children get, the expenses increase accordingly.

But there are several ways to save on costumes for your kids, even if you're not one of those super-creative, handy-with-a sewing-machine types:

Getting in shape for less

We all know that balanced nutrition and regular exercise are the key to living a long, healthy life, but as many of us have concluded over the years, that's far easier said than done. As the burgeoning list of secondhand gym memberships for sale on sites such as Yad2 and Homeless attest, many of us make resolutions we find hard to keep later on.

While nothing will ever replace willpower and perseverance in the struggle for good health, there are several tools online which can make the task both easier and cheaper for you - some even free. One less thing to worry about, in this case money,  can do wonders for your resolve!

Selling your stuff online, without shipping it overseas

If you're like the average Anglo-Israeli, you probably have plenty of stuff hanging around your house that you don't really need and takes up space in your closet or shed. Stuff that other people might enjoy and use.

 Of course, you always have the option of donating your stuff to charity, giving it away (e.g., via Agora or Freecycle) or selling it on eBay, but this isn't always the best solution for heavy, fragile or very expensive items. Try sending, say, a large crystal vase abroad, and you'll end up either with a huge shipping bill because of the weight of the padding, or a broken vase and one very dissatisfied customer. Your best bet is probably to attempt to sell it to someone nearby, preferably someone who'll pick it up from your house or an agreed-upon meeting place.

 To this end, you have several options online. You can also help others get rid of their unwanted stuff , and help the planet as a bonus, by buying secondhand and helping others recycle their unwanted goods.

The price is right - freebies

Who doesn't like getting something for nothing? While free samples aren't quite as common as we might like in Israel, they do exist and, as far as I can tell, are becoming more common as Israeli society becomes more Americanized - as least in its shopping habits.