JLS Editorial Staff - October is creeping in, and with it comes one of the most exciting times of the fall season—Halloween! But as you scroll through social media and see costume ideas that cost more than your monthly food budget, you might wonder: Is it possible to celebrate in style without draining your bank account?
Absolutely.
Halloween isn’t about spending big—it’s about creativity, fun, and a little bit of spooky spirit. With some imagination and a few things, you probably already have at home, you can build a costume that turns heads without turning your wallet inside out. Let’s break down how to do Halloween right—on a budget.
🎭 1. Raid Your Closet First
Before you hit the stores, take a deep dive into your own wardrobe. That old flannel? Perfect for a scarecrow. Black dress? Hello, Wednesday Addams. A white tee and jeans? You're halfway to becoming a ghost, zombie, or retro movie character.
Look for:
- Basic colors (black, white, red)
- Flannel shirts, denim, leather
- Oversized sweaters or dresses
- Anything sparkly, weird, or retro
Sometimes, the best costumes are already hiding in plain sight.
✂️ 2. Embrace the Power of DIY
A few household items, craft supplies, and a hot glue gun can take your costume from “meh” to “OMG.”
DIY Costume Ideas:
- Cereal Killer: Tape mini cereal boxes to a shirt, add fake knives (paper or plastic), and drizzle red paint or ketchup. Punny and scary.
- Static Cling: Dress in neutral clothes, then pin socks, dryer sheets, and small laundry items to your outfit. Messy hair is a bonus!
- Error 404 Costume Not Found: Plain white tee + marker or printout that says “Error 404: Costume Not Found.” It’s lazy on purpose.
- Social Butterfly: Cut out social media logos and attach them to a shirt. Add dollar-store wings. Cute and clever.
🧛 3. Thrift It Up
Thrift stores are Halloween goldmines. From random costume pieces to vintage clothing, you never know what you’ll find—and you’ll almost always pay under $10 per piece.
Pro tip: Check for discounts in early to mid-October before the good stuff gets picked over.
🎨 4. Let Makeup Do the Heavy Lifting
Sometimes, all you need is a little face paint or eyeliner to complete a look. YouTube tutorials can turn you into a skeleton, cat, scarecrow, or pop art character in 20 minutes or less—no costume needed.
Cheap Makeup Tricks:
- Use eyeliner to draw whiskers, spider webs, or fake stitches
- Apply white powder and dark eyeshadow for a ghoulish look
- Red lipstick doubles as fake blood or zombie wounds
👻 5. Go Group or Duo for Impact
Group costumes can be inexpensive AND hilarious—especially if everyone contributes their own thrift or DIY twist.
Group Ideas on a Budget:
- Tourists: Hawaiian shirts, sunglasses, cameras, and sandals
- Deck of Cards: Red and black T-shirts, felt shapes, and some tape
- Fruit Salad: Everyone dresses as a different fruit using solid-colored clothes and paper cutouts
💡 Bonus Tips to Save Big:
- Reuse Last Year’s Costume with a twist—switch the theme, add accessories, or mash it up into something new.
- Host a Costume Swap with friends or classmates. One person's forgotten vampire cape could be your ticket to spooky stardom.
- Hit the Dollar Store for accessories like fake glasses, hats, glow sticks, or face paint.
Final Thought:
Halloween isn’t a fashion show—it’s a celebration of fun, imagination, and community. Whether you’re heading to a party, trick-or-treating, or just dressing up for selfies, a great costume doesn’t have to cost more than a pumpkin spice latte.
So grab your scissors, hit up your closet, and get crafting. Because when it comes to DIY Halloween, the only thing scary is how easy it is to save money.
Fast + Cheap DIY Costume Ideas Costume
What You Need
Cat: Black clothes + eyeliner whiskers + DIY ears
Mummy: Toilet paper or gauze wrapped around clothes
Ghost: Old white sheet with cut-out eyes (classic!)
80s Workout Star: Bright leggings + headband + loud music
Bookworm: Glasses + stack of books + nerdy outfit
© Jules Emmanuel Meunier 2025. All rights reserved. Do not copy or reproduce without permission.
Comments ()