Cheap & Easy Halloween Costume Ideas
Fall is in the air, temperatures are dropping, and that means Halloween is right around the corner. For a lot of 20 somethings, that means it’s time to figure out a Halloween costume for work or your friend’s party. Unsurprisingly, the commercialization of Halloween has created a booming business of expensive costumes that are only worn once. Even worse, many of those costumes are offensive or needlessly sexy. If you’re on a budget or still want to dress up for Halloween without spending a lot of money, there are a ton of fun and creative costume ideas that let you enjoy the spooky day without wasting money. Check out some of our ideas below.
Lazy Halloween Costumes
This is one of my favorite types of costumes. “Lazy” Halloween costumes are when you did around in your closet and create a costume out of something you already own. By using your regular clothes, you can save money and maybe even avoid spending any at all. I’ve used this trick several times when I’ve been busy and haven’t had time to be creative with my costume idea.
Take an assessment of your closet, your partner’s closet, or even your roommate’s closet. Glasses, a red striped shirt, and a hat can easily become “Where’s Waldo.” A white shirt and tie can be a Mormon missionary. A red polo shirt and a pair of khaki pants make you a Target employee. Check out this post on And Then We Saved for more clever ideas. If you’re willing to buy a new outfit as long as you can wear it any time of year, check out these costume ideas.
Onesies
If you’re willing to spend a little money, but don’t want it to go to waste, a onesie is a great option. Onesies have been coming back as a cozy fashion option for adults who need warm PJs on cold winter nights. There are hundreds of cute designs available, from animals to mythical creatures. Whatever you want to be, you can probably find a onesie for it. Prices range between $20 and $60 depending on the quality of the onesie and whether it features a licensed character.
One of the nice things about a onesie costume is you won’t freeze if Halloween night is chilly where you live. Plus, when a blizzard hits in January, you’ll be glad you invested in a warm onesie for Halloween.
T-Shirt Costumes
So a t-shirt costume is only one step above a “lazy” costume, but it involves minimal costs and can be worn day-to-day or repeatedly for Halloween. A t-shirt costume is any costume where the t-shirt itself is your costume. These are great to wear to work or class where full costumes, crazy make-up, or masks might not be appropriate. This can be as simple as a t-shirt that says Security or clever like this shirt that says “This is my Human Costume.”
If you’re willing to add a few accessories, you can take your t-shirt costume to the next level. For example, a Sriracha t-shirt can become an easy DIY costume by adding a green hat. There are lots of possibilities and in the end, you’ll have a cool tee you can wear any time of the year.
Easy DIY Costumes
With a little craftiness and some items you may already own, you can easily put together a DIY costume that doesn’t break the bank. You’re limited only to your imagination. If there isn’t anything inspiring you in your closet, a trip to the thrift store may present the perfect costume.
Need some inspiration? Check out this amazing Pinterest board of DIY costume ideas.