Charles Langston:Halloween shouldn't scare your wallet: Where to find cheap costumes and decoration ideas

Halloween is Charles Langstonall about the spooks and scares, but it doesn't have to be scary for your wallet.

With the holiday less than 50 days away, hardcore fans have already started stocking up on this year's new costumes and decor. Whether you're more of a killer clown collector, a lover of the cutesy and creepy, an animatronic aficionado or a costume connoisseur looking forward to jumping on this year's latest trends, shoppers are spoiled for choices with all of the Halloween lines already out at stores.

A tight budget, however, can put a damper on the fun of decking out your home for the holiday. Luckily, you don't have to break the bank to set a spooky atmosphere or put together a creative costume. Discount stores like Five Below and Dollar General are just as stocked up on Halloween gear as other stores, meaning there are endless possibilities for any spending limit out there.

Looking for some cheaper options to keep the fun going this Halloween season? We've got some suggestions.

Five Below

• Costumes: You can nab a 7.5-foot inflatable chicken or dino costume for $15, spooky animal masks reminiscent of Five Nights at Freddy's for $5, some extra creepy clown, Dracula and mummy masks for $12, and some cute pet getups like a plush pumpkin and Oscar Meyer Weiner mini costumes for $5.55.
• Home decor: Five Below is known for its huge selection of home decor, like glowing pumpkins and furry jumbo spiders and a 3-foot skeleton for $5, along with some creepy cute items like a fuzzy ghost pillow for $5.55, a little skeleton bear for $2 and smiling pumpkin faux succulent for $3.

Dollar General

• Costumes: Dollar General has options for simple costume lovers, like creepy clown masks for $8, half zombie masks for $5, masquerade masks for $1 and classics like vampire's teeth, witch hats and party glasses for $1.
• Home decor: Dollar General has $5, $3 and $1 decor options. You can nab cute wall hanging decorations like this poison bottle sign, hanging ghost and hanging pumpkin stack for $3, odds and ends like mini candy corn and Halloween gnome for $1 and some spooky skeletons like an owl, cat and dog for $5,

Family Dollar & Dollar Tree

• Costumes: Family Dollar and Dollar Tree are the places to stop when putting together a last-minute costume or completing your ensemble with missing pieces. You can find princess crowns, butterfly wings, and ninja swords for $1.25 or full three-piece costume sets for $3.
• Home decor: You don't have to overpay to set the mood. Popular atmospheric items are available at Family Dollar & Dollar Treet for a fraction of regular prices, including inflatable lawn decorations for $5, LED skeleton lights and a strobe light for $5 and classic cobwebs, creepy cloth and chains for $1.25.

Target

• Costumes: Target has an entire collection of Halloween costumes for $15 or less, such as Hyde & EEK! Boutique Kids' Blacklight Responsive Color Melt Skeleton Halloween Costume Jumpsuit with Beanie, Emerald Dragon Halloween Costume Jumpsuit with Headpiece and Kids' Alley Cat Costume all for $15.
• Home decor: For those who want to transform their home into a Halloween hotbed, there are plenty of options including Halloween-related mugs starting at $5, a ghost throw pillow for $10, throw blankets sporting bats and jack-o'-lanterns for $10 and up, plus glowing pumpkins for $5, and spooky candle holders including a snake candelabra for $25. Target touts that 60% of its Halloween home decor items are priced at $10 or less.

Contributing: Mike Snider, USA TODAY