Looking for cheap Halloween costumes? We’ve got you covered! I’ll be the first to admit, we don’t hype traditional holidays to the extent most Americans do. When we were on our debt-free journey, we skipped them entirely. Instead, we saved the money we would have spent on parties, trips, and presents and chunked it all at our debt snowball.
Was it extreme? 1000%.
Do we regret it? Not at all. In fact, it’s a tradition we’ve by in large kept over the years. By changing our mindset around holidays and their meanings, we’ve been able to focus on what matters most to us.
We still go to the occasional party, but we do Halloween and other holidays on the cheap, especially when it comes to costumes. An adult Halloween costume averages around $50, while ones for kids are easily averaging $30.
No thanks!
As October quickly approaches and you budget for the month, here are some of my favorite Halloween costumes my friends, family, and I have done over the years on the cheap.
I was a super awkward teenager so sharing these pictures terrifies me a little (the acne struggle was real), but we like to preach what we practice here, so I dug through the archives for y’all. Also, full confession, since I looked really young for my age, I totally continued to trick-or-treat during college. I loved that candy but didn’t need more student loans! No shame in my game.
10. Ghost
This might be one of the oldest Halloween costumes around. Just make sure you’re cutting eye holes in an old white sheet you don’t need for the pull-out sleeper sofa when your in-laws come to visit.
9. Napoleon Dynamite
IYKYK. An oldie but goodie simple “Vote for Pedro” shirt gets this job done. Bonus points if you have a fro you can rock to bring the ensemble together.
8. Streaker
One of my friends came up with this idea in high school. Grab a large trench coat from the closet and hold it tight around you. If anyone asks, just say you’re naked underneath, waiting for the right moment to drop and run. I don’t recommend actually streaking, but you do you!
If you have some cheap costume jewelry hanging around, you could also pin them to the inside of the coat and pretend to be a knock-off jewelry seller just trying to get by on the street corner.
Yes, I know this is not a trench coat pictured above. Alas, that photo was lost in the Great Harddrive Reformatting Disaster of the late 2010s, but it’s something similar for a general idea. Replace the suit jacket with a trench coat, trade pants for shorts, and off you go!
7. Roman
Who hasn’t taken a white sheet and wrapped it toga style for Halloween or a themed party? Bonus points if you have super uncomfortable shoes you can accessorize with, but a simple pair of golden flats or flip-flops you already own will do the trick. Unlike our ghost above, this one is in-law visit approved.
6. Witch
Pointy hat? Check. There’s not much more you need here, though feel free to get creative, especially if you have a broom and something that could double as a fake face wort or green face paint. The more Gruntilda Winkybunion you can make it, the better.
5. Faerie
A pair of faerie wings can be sourced cheaply or even borrowed from a kids’ ghost of costumes past. A little glitter body spray and eye shadow, paired with a dress already on hand and you’re ready to terrorize Wendy until she leaves Neverland.
Fun fact: this is actually the dress I graduated college in and wore for my wedding years later.
4. Zombie
Disclaimer: I’m a weird writer who likes to “dress for work” so I already had a pair of zombie leggings hanging around for my post-apocalypse novella writing days. You don’t need to go buy a special pair of pants though. Grab an old sweat- or grass-stained plain white undershirt and some red lipstick, markers, paint – whatever you have on hand that can double as blood. If someone tries to give you grief, feel free to eat their brains out. (This zombie has zero blood circulation and was cold.)
Bonus: Since my husband won’t do couple’s costumes, he threw on his boots, plaid shirt, and straw hat and went as a mountain man. (He loved using his costume as an excuse to not shave that week.)
3. Hogwarts Student
This one requires a little bit of sewing magic. Since I never got my letter from Hogwarts, I didn’t have it. My mother had to rip out all the seams and fix it for me, but we did a quick repurpose of what I think was my brother’s old Grim Reaper cape. Pair it with a white dress shirt, some clunky shoes, and a tie color of your choice (don’t know your house? Take a quiz and find out for authenticity), along with a wand if you have one. Viola! Instant costume magic. No elf labor required.
2. The Son of Man
This is my favorite costume I wish I’d come up with, but the honors go to my best friend. Alas, this photo was also lost in the great harddrive crash (this also happened to be the year I was Hermione Granger). He found a top hat and pinned and Granny Smith apple to it. Rocking a suit he already owned, he became the The Son of Man painting. It was beautiful in its brilliance and simplicity. My only beef was that our neighbors asked about it a lot while trick-or-treating that night, which limited our normal candy haul.
1. Grapes
This is my favorite “ingenious” invention if that counts as a humble brag. I bought a bag of balloons at Wal-Mart, grabbed the string and tape from the kitchen junk drawer, and taped them around myself. For about $2, I become grapes. It was great, except for the growing static electricity over the course of the evening from rubbing up against people’s bushes on the way to their front doors. If you take this one out for a spin around the neighborhood, make sure you have a designated doorbell ringer with you.
If you buy a green shirt at Goodwill to compliment your green grapes, you can repurpose it the following year with a pair of dark green leggings, a pair of low-cut boots, and a feather to rock as the titular character from Peter Pan on the cheap as well. If you’re significant other is willing to do a couples theme, pair with #5 above.
Poll the Audience
What are your favorite (cheap!) Halloween costumes? Comment below or share your photos in our Facebook community. Stay safe and have a wonderful time out there in this witching season.