The time to start thinking about Halloween costumes is near, there are so many choices it seems and before you know it Halloween will be here and we will be scrambling for costumes. The stores have begun to stock the shelves with every kind of sweets and goodies available and trick-or-treating is on every child's mind. It is a very fun time for both kids and adults alike; imaginations go wild with ideas for costumes, decorations and parties.

When it comes to Halloween costumes there are endless choices to choose from, everything from movie characters and cartoon characters to pirates, princesses and witches. Local grocery and drug stores have racks of ready-made costumes that get the little ones excited every time you go shopping. These costumes are great for a last minute save or if your not planning on saving the costume for someone else another year, they tend to rip or tear and come apart very easily sometimes even before the big event. They are usually made of a plastic material and come with a hard plastic mask. While they are not on my top list for first choice in Halloween costumes, they are very affordable and come in a wide selection of characters to choose from.

If you are looking for a more durable Halloween costume then definitely check out the local costume stores. Along with costumes they also carry make-up, wigs and accessories needed to make every costume complete. You can usually find wonderful party and yard decorations if you are planning on having a costume party or haunted house for kids or adults. Another great place to find perfect Halloween costumes is online. At these online retailers you can find virtually any costume or accessory you are looking for. Costumes purchased from costume stores are made durable and higher quality. They can be saved for future Halloweens to come if stored properly. Another great feature about the online stores is that you can find the hard to find costumes in a wider range of sizes, from very small to plus sizes.

Lets not forget our four legged friends when thinking costumes. Its fun to include your pets is the festivities. Just remember when dressing your pets in a costume that they not be to tight or loose. Your pet needs to be able to walk around freely and be able to relieve him or herself when they need to. You want the costume to move with your pet and not get tangled or catch on everything they walk by. Local costume store and costume stores online have a very large variety of selections when it comes to pet Halloween costumes.

Another great feature about the online costume stores is that you can find Halloween costumes for groups of individuals and families such as the "Adams Family", "Three Stooges", "Fantastic Four", "Teenage Mutant Turtles" and the "Beverly Hillbillies", all in one place and the right size needed for everyone. Here's another great group Harry potter and all of his friends and teachers, yep they have them all. Just remember to shop early to ensure you and your family gets the costumes you all want. Standard shipping usually takes seven to ten days and express shipping is available if needed.

Just remember to keep it fun and enjoy the time spent with family and friends. Remember that Halloween can also be scary for some children and pets, this is when funny happy costumes are probably the best way to go, it's not all about the spooky and scary for everyone. Halloween brings out the child in all of us, it's a time to carve pumpkins, tell spooky or funny stories, have parties and dress-up in funny Halloween costumes. Happy Halloween!