{"id":121221,"date":"2011-10-17T07:00:01","date_gmt":"2011-10-17T12:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebudgetfashionista.com\/wordpress\/?p=742"},"modified":"2025-10-18T09:24:34","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T15:24:34","slug":"halloween-costume-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebudgetfashionista.com\/fashion-trends\/halloween-costume-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"11 brilliant budget halloween costume ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Halloween’s almost here (geez, can you believe it?). So it’s tough to think of easy halloween costume<\/a> ideas that won’t destroy your Black Friday shopping budget, right? I mean, dropping $70 on an Amazon costume can be tough this time of year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For those of you with little or no budget for costumes this year, here are 11 budget Halloween costume ideas. You may not win the best costume title but you’ll still show up respectably at any costume party — with money left in your checking account. Enjoy!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The easiest budget halloween costume ideas<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1. Princess (Of genovia if you like)<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\"Close<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n

This is my personal Halloween favorite. Head to the nearest Salvation Army or Goodwill and find yourself an old prom dress or evening gown. Or, look in the back of your closet for those \u201cforgotten\u201d bridesmaid dresses. The puffier and gaudier, the better.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Next, pick up a tiara, fake diamond jewelry, and white gloves if you can find them. You may also find those at Goodwill, but a Halloween store or teen accessory store like Claire’s will work too. Pile on the bling first, then get into character. You know, adopt a made-up accent like Moira Rose and then practice your royal wave (wave, wave, touch the pearls).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Now, here is the piece de triumph: Have your male bestie dress in a tux and gloves and be your manservant, James, for the whole night.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Your cost: $15-40, depending on the size of your kingdom.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

2. Marathon runner<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\"Runner<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n

Dig out that summer tank top, shorts, and tennis shoes. Since it\u2019s the end of October, go ahead and wear tights underneath your short shorts if you need to. A beanie and lightweight gloves would also be acceptable. Print out a race number on your computer, pin it on your tank, and you are ready to go.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Your cost: $0-$40, depending on the medal you are seeking.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

3. Off-duty model<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\"Woman<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n

For this costume, it doesn’t really matter what you wear — as long as you start with an enormous pair of sunglasses, long hair, and heels that seem too formal for your outfit. Find yourself a cheap wig if needed. You could don a mini and denim jacket with heels or sweatpants and a baggy t. But your hair should be messy and you should scowl.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It’ll also help if you can perfect the “I’m trying to hide but secretly want to be noticed” look.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Turn this into a couple’s costume by having your partner follow you and push people out of the way to photograph you.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Your cost: $0 to $25, depending on the size of your headline. <\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

4. Sports parent<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\"Mom<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n

The prep for this costume is fairly easy. Attend one of your local little league or soccer events and study the parent pacing the sidelines wearing the team colors from head to toe. Then head to your nearest Salvation Army or call up a friend to borrow a booster club t-shirt. Spend the entire night yelling at others to \u201csuck it up,” \u201crun faster,” and \u201cstop being a cry baby.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Your cost: $0 (or more, depending on your child’s therapy bills).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

5. Sandwich board (Or pinterest board)<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"Sandwich<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Get yourself two giant pieces of cardboard, cut holes in the top of each and tie them together with string or twine. Decorate the boards however you’d like. Be a tattoo shop sign if you’re edgy. Other options are your corner cafe with a sense of humor (see sandwich board puns for inspo\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n <\/g>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n <\/clipPath>\r\n <\/defs><\/svg><\/span><\/a>).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

You could also tap a bunch of photos to your cardboard and call yourself a Pinterest board.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Your cost: $0 unless you decide to buy a bunch of stuff on Amazon to procure cardboard.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

6. Ward and June cleaver (Or any ’50s couple)<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\"Smiling<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n

Dig a collared shirt and a-line skirt out of your closet and ask an older relative for a floral apron. Or shop thrift stores for appropriately old-fashioned pieces. Add sensible pumps and a subservient attitude (say “yes dear a lot) and you\u2019re are ready to go.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Have your SO dress as your husband Ward, with a brown suit and a printed newspaper in hand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Total cost: $0 to $40, depending on whether \u201cthe Beav\u201d needs braces.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

7. Game show host and number-turner<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\"Man<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n

This is a perfect costume for couples. Go to your nearest thrift store and find the cheesiest polyester, double-knit suit ensemble for men<\/a>, and an \u201880s deranged-bridesmaid dress for women. Buy a toy microphone at a toy shop or Halloween store. Pick up a can of ultra cheap hairspray and tease up your hair like you’re from the Jersey shore.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Get a piece of cardboard, cut out a star about 8 inches in diameter and glue on gold glitter. Write the word \u201cGrand Prize\u201d in silver. To keep you smiling for the entire night, use this beauty pageant trick:  put Vaseline<\/a> on the gums underneath your upper lip.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Your cost: $20 to $70 for both costumes, depending on whether your show is picked up for another season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

8. Tacky tourists<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\"Tacky<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n

Pair loud, floral printed camp shirts with hideous khaki or bermuda shorts<\/a>. Wear white tube socks pulled up to your knees with some plastic sandals from WalMart. Add a camera or camcorder, fanny pack, and flip sunglasses to finish off the outfit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Total cost:<\/strong> $0 to $20 for both costumes, depending on how much vacation time you’ve accumulated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

9. Sloth (Of the seven deadly sins)<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\"Woman<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n

To be sloth, forgo washing your hair for a week. Then roll out of bed on Halloween in your pjs and you’re ready to go. See if you can recruit six friends to play the other deadly sins: greed, envy, wrath, gluttony, pride and lust.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Your cost: $0, depending on how sinful you\u2019re are willing to get.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

10. For families: The huxtables (Or the tanners, bradys, etc.)<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n