WARNING: This year’s World Book Day is looming.
Whether your child is a Roald Dahl or Horrid Henry fan, discover how to create a costume for them to wear to school next Thursday that doesn’t cost too much.
WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE: David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny is popular — just grey your child’s hair with talc and pop on a floral dress.
If they have a red hat and blue coat, a Paddington Bear outfit may be coming together. Add marmalade sandwiches as props.
Where’s Wally is also simple. Find a red and white striped top or buy a red and white striped scarf on Amazon for £3.39.
REWEAR IT: If your child still loves last year’s outfit, let them wear it again. Or they and another child could swap what they wore before.
Another idea is eBay or Gumtree, where I found a Mr Bump costume for £8.50.
Savvy charity shops will also have been keeping costumes for this week, so have a look.
GET CRAFTY: This is only for the brave, and those who can sew. But Hobbycraft’s Simplicity Patterns animal costume pattern is £6, down from £12.
It also has craft card packs so you can make a 3D knight, shark or dinosaur head that your kid can wear — £8 each.
BE ARTY: If you have raided the fancy dress box, why not freshen up their outfit with face paint? See YouTube for World Book Day tutorials.
I found a reptile tutorial that would be perfect if your little one is going as The Selfish Crocodile. You can get the face paints from Poundland.
CHEAP ’N’ CHEERFUL: George at Asda has lots of fancy dress items on sale.
They include a Willy Wonka golden ticket outfit, now £8 down from £10, and The Hungry Caterpillar reduced from £14 to £11.20.
At B&M, get costumes from £7.99, including Alice in Wonderland and Goldilocks.
Matalan has a great selection, including Dorothy from The Wizard Of Oz from £14 and Horrid Henry from £15.
Aldi’s new range lands in stores today. Costumes are £9.99 each and include Mary Poppins.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
Deal of the day
POP open a can of Pringles, as all flavours are now £1.65, usually £3.30, at Co-op.
SAVE: £1.65
Cheap treat
GET 25 per cent off a 24-pack of Staedtler colouring pencils at Sainsbury’s — now £3.75.
SAVE: £1.25
What’s new
GET 20 per cent off delivery and collection on the top four pizzas at PizzaExpress when you spend £15 and order via Pizzaexpress.com, or other delivery services until March 6 (excluding Tuesday).
The pizzas are American Hot, Padana, Pollo Forza and Vegan Giardiniera.
Top swap
THIS smiley face pancake pan at Amazon.co.uk is £23.90.
Or head to Aldi, as the Crofton animal face pan is £7.99.
SAVE: £15.91
Leah’s little helper
DON’T forget to use the £1 book token, distributed to kids through schools.
The tokens can be swapped for one of the new World Book Day books, or to get £1 off any full-price book or audiobook (as long as the price is at least £2.99).
Most supermarkets and book shops take them. See worldbookday.com.
Shop and save
CLEAN up with a six-pack of antibacterial Moss & Adams handwashes for £10, which usually cost £15 from mossandadams.com.
SAVE: £5
Hot right now
CHECK out maternity wear in the New Look sale, with tops starting from £3.
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