How to Save Money on Your Halloween Costume | brokeGIRLrich
If you check out your average Halloween store or even a Target or Walmart, costumes are going to cost you upwards of $20. To add insult to injury, they’re just going to be boring, generic costumes… and likely the slutty version of something otherwise normal if you’re a girl.
Speaking of… check out this HILARIOUS website of taking the “slutty costume” trend a little too far. Although if I had a body like that, there’s a good chance I would’ve worn the ear of corn one because, why? Why does that even exist??
I grew up in a lower middle class household and my grandmother sewed the vast majority of my costumes between the ages of 3-10. My very first Halloween, I was Raggedy Anne. My mom just took the clothes off of one of her old dolls and made me a little wig out of a red ball of yarn. And I was adorable.
So, got some sewing skills? You can either use old clothes you don’t want anymore or pick up some bargain cloth and get sewing. Places like AC Moore and Jo-Ann Fabrics sell patterns that you can use to make your costume.
You or your child could be this cute little lamb.
I believe this princess was another one of my grandmother’s awesome creations.
Check out some of these sources for free Halloween patterns:
As I got older, I went down a little more of a DIY route – sometimes out of necessity.
Senior year of high school I was probably at my geeky pinnacle (this is a lie – I haven’t hit the pinnacle yet). Together with several other friends, I was the periodic table of elements. I was Zinc. Unfortunately, I went out Trick or Treating with different friends, so my Zinc costume seemed a little stranger then (and it’s pretty difficult to see in the picture).
Also note the awesome turkey costume that could’ve been used at Halloween. Entirely found items in my home.
Total cost for that costume: 1 sacrificed white shirt
Halloween parties in the Officer’s Bar on a cruise ship weren’t really something I ever packed for… but I had enough black clothes onboard to make a ninja costume very do-able, especially with a last minute stop at the Dollar Store for some plastic nunchucks (speaking of… check out this great post from Monica on how to have a $1 Halloween).
Total cost for that costume: $1 nunchucks & headband
We had a totally ’80’s theme party one year for Halloween where I learned that raiding your mother’s old clothes in the attic can be a costume in itself. I had black leggings of my own and cut out the neck on an old black sweatshirt. I spent about $10 at Claire’s buying a blue headband and neon blue accessories to round out the outfit
Total cost for that costume: $10 in accessories (that I used regularly with other outfits for years after)
One of the coolest DIY costumes I ever came up with was with 3 other roommates from college. We hosted a Halloween party one year and went as the 4 seasons. It was most expensive DIY costume to date, but it was awesome and I still have it in a bag. I was Fall – which with the other three costumes looks awesome and by itself it easily transitions into “woodland fairy”… at least I’m assuming so. That’s what people called me when I was walking around the party by myself until they saw my roommates too.
Total cost for that costume: $2 nightgown from Goodwill, $5 face paint, $10 fake leaves from AC Moore, $5 crazy glue. $22 to awesome
I used to wear a bed sheet. I was a ghost for like 5 years growing up! Hehe, I”m original. But really I like costumes that I can actually wear again. Like should I be Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory, I can still wear the clothing to bed and whatnot. Can’t say the same about a pirate costume lol.
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Well… depends on what your girlfriend is into.
I was a pretty good incredible hulk as a kid. I used my football shoulder pad so green face paint and some old ripped up clothes. Hulk Smash! My wife is making a rock, paper, scissor DIY costumes for her and friends to wear at work this year. he could not get 2 more friends to commit to Lizard, and Spock. 🙂
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LOL. That’s a terrific costume. I love that they tried to add lizard and Spock too!
Your four seasons costume, reminds me of the “Girl for all Seasons” song from Grease 2, one of my all-time favorite cheesy movie indulgences. I am not really creative about making costumes; however, I am frugal because I wear the same one every year, Alice in Wonderland. I have really gotten my money’s worth on that costume I purchased 8 years ago.
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That’s certainly one way to do it!
I’ve always been pretty boring when it comes to costumes. Occasionally I’ll try to be a character from a movie, but my creativity sucks! We aren’t doing anything this year for Halloween though. Just staying home and watching scary movies.
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Ha! My senior year I was a got milk? ad. With the vitamins and nutrients shpeel on the back of a black shirt, hand written in white by yours truly. And on the front the iconic slogan of course. So Zinc seems awesome to me.
I haven’t dressed up in a few years. Little ones make our hard to party, and my husband won’t dress up so all the awesome couples possibilities are out the window. But we’ve DIYed for the little ones most of their lives. Or done hand me downs.
I created a piñata costume out of old yoga pants, an old zip up hoodie, and dollar store party hats and tissue paper. It’s been the most fun Halloween costume I’ve ever had!
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That is definitely a winner. Sounds awesome!
Your 4 Seasons pictures are adorable! I think that is my favorite!
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Mine too 😉
I am going as Professor Umbridge tomorrow night. My sister and I walked into a thrift store to get white shirts for her family of mad scientists and the perfect outfit for Umbridge was hanging on the end of the rack in my size! Done! $15 and I am brunette so will do my hair. Too easy.
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Awesome. I love me some Harry Potter. Umbridge was perfectly horrible.
We always made our costumes from stuff we found at home or at Value Village. It was fun, cheap & everyone had an original costume.
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I’ve recently found kiddie consignment. So we found the most adorable bee for $6 for my son. My daughter will be a bee next year when she can walk. This year, we just did us and participated in the Trunk or Treat with my church. I found a posterboard from the last people who we bought the house from and saved it. Came in handy along with construction paper and tape. Got it done and our game station was a hit! I meant to try this DIY Olaf character – but didn’t make it. Oh well, maybe next year (especially if Frozen 2 comes out LOL)
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Kiddie consignment is awesome. So much better than buying something they’ll probably never wear again or outgrow quickly.
My baby was a birthday fairy this year. I bought a pair of wings, just so they could play dress-up but put it all together and she was adorable! Growing up, we made a lot of my costumes, DIY almost all the way. I think we bought a witches hat once… that I used for several years!
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