DIY: Halloween Costumes for Poor College Students

By Broadside Correspondent Mary Carpenter

Halloween is just around the corner, and you still do not know what to be. Here are some costume ideas that won’t put a dent in your wallet and are sure to make you a hit wherever you go on Halloween.

Basic

Ghost: $5
All you need for this is a white sheet, which you can find at Wal-Mart or Target. Cut holes in the sheet for your eyes and mouth, throw over you head and your ready to go.

Mummy: $10
Get some bandages or gauze and wrap around your body. Pick up some white and black makeup, which you can find at the Dollar Store. Paint your face to look like an undead mummy, and maybe use some of the black makeup to put on the gauzes to make them look ancient and moldy.

Pirate: $10
This costume is very easy; just wear a pair of jeans and a striped shirt, maybe with a vest. You can find these clothes at a local thrift store for less than $10. Get an eye patch and a bandana, which you can get at the Dollar Store. You can also black out a couple of teeth using a makeup kit found at any party supply store.

Zombie: $10
Get some white makeup and paint your face white. Color the area around your eyes brown or black with face paint and wear old tattered clothes.

Skeleton: $10
The skeleton is just as easy as the ghost. Using fabric paint, paint a skeleton onto a black sweatsuit or black long johns. This is quick and easy for a last-minute costume.
Clown: $15
Get some colorful sweats that are too large. Using fabric paint or markers, paint a colorful design onto your clothes and glue on some pom-poms. Add some makeup and a wig, and you are sure to get a lot of laughs.

Funny and Unique

Static Cling: $5
Wear all black, and then safety pin anything that you might have in your house, such as socks, underwear, dryer sheets and dish towels to your clothes. If you want to go all out, you can even get some gel and hairspray to make your hair stand straight up.

Bunch of Grapes: $3
First, decide if you want to be green or purple grapes. Then dress in all green or purple, and get balloons that are green or purple and safety pin them to your clothing. You can get balloons anywhere for less than three dollars.

Playing Card: $4
All you need for this costume are two white poster boards, some ribbon, and some markers. Punch two holes in both poster boards, about six or seven inches away from each corner. Tie the ribbon through the holes so the poster will sit on your shoulders. Then draw any type of playing card on the posters. You can get a bunch of friends together and each go as a different card.

Dice: $4
This is a great costume for friends to do. You need two boxes: paint the boxes white with black dots representing the numbers on each side of the dice. Cut the bottom of the box out and glue on ribbon or punch holes through the box so the ribbon can act as suspenders. Wear all white clothes.

Rubik’s Cube: $5
You will need a box and construction paper. Cut a hole in the top of the box, big enough to fit over your head, and then cut holes for your arms. Cut the construction paper into squares, and place the same colors together on the different sides of the box.

Bag of Jelly Bean: $7
For this costume, you will need a trash bag, poster board, ribbon and balloons. Cut two holes into the bottom of the trash bag for your legs to fit through. Then punch two small holes so you can tie the ribbon so it will hold the bag up. Blow up some balloons and put some balloons in the trash bag, and then make a sign that says “Jelly Beans” and attach it to the front of the bag.

Crayons: $15-20
This costume would be fun to do with a group. Get some black fabric and fabric that is the color crayon you would like to be. Cut out the word “Crayon”—you can use a stencil for this, which you can find at a craft store. Glue it on to the other color fabric that you have, and make some black strips for the top and bottom of the outfit. Then, all you have to do is safety pin the fabric together.

Cereal Killer: $4
Wear a white shirt and some jeans, get some empty boxes of cereal and pin them to your shirt. Get some fake blood to put on your shirt and around the cereal boxes. You could also put some plastic knives in the cereal boxes.

Rag Doll: $10
Wear some overalls and a t-shirt. Braid your hair in pigtails or get a red wig and braid it. Get some makeup and draw on some freckles, or give yourself some rosy red cheeks.

Scary

Vampire: $8
Wear all black, and get some black fabric and safety pin it around your neck. Get some makeup to make your face white, and get some fake teeth with fake blood.

Grim Reaper: $7
Wear all black, and a black cap with a hood. Just safety pin the cap around your neck. You can get a scythe from the Dollar Store or at Five Below.

Carrie: $15
Girls, all you’ll need is a white dress you don’t mind getting fake blood all over. Buy some fake blood and put it everywhere. If you don’t have a dress, you can go to Ross and get dresses for about $10-$15.

Chucky: $15
Guys, get some overalls and a long sleeve striped or white shirt. Get an orange wig for your hair, a hat and some make-up for your face and you’re sure to be a hit on Halloween.

Miscellaneous

Hippie: $5
Wear jeans with a bright or tie-dye shirt. Get some colorful sunglasses, a headband and a long-haired wig.

50s sock hopper: $15-$20
Girls, you can wear a poodle skirt and a white t-shirt. Put your hair in a ponytail and tie a scarf around the ponytail. Guys, put on some jeans, and a fake leather jacket. Slick your hair back with some gel or grease.

Sleepy head: $0
Just wear some pajamas that you already have, put on your house shoes and grab a teddy bear.

Tourist: $5
Guys, get out that bright Hawaiian-style shirt, put on some khaki shorts, and sandals, preferably with white socks. Grab your camera and some sunglasses and you’re ready for a day on vacation. Girls, get out those sundresses, sandals, and a hat. You will also need your sunglasses and a camera.

Miss America :$6
Get out your old prom or formal dress and some thick ribbon to make a sash. Pick up a crown, which you can find at the Dollar Tree or Five Below.

Bunny: $6
Wear a white shirt and leggings. Buy some ears and a tail, and pin them on to your clothes. Add some whiskers and a pink nose with some makeup. You also can do this with any animal, such as a cat, or a mouse. Just change the color of your leggings and add different makeup, ears and a tail.

These are just few ideas for Halloween. If you go to the Dollar Store or Five Below, you will find makeup, hats, wigs, and pretty much anything you need to make a costume of your own. The closest Dollar Store and Five Below are located in Fair City Mall, which is on Main Street. Also in Fair City Mall, you can find a craft store and a Ross. If you need a Wal-Mart, the closest is in Burke, which is right down Roberts Road. Happy Halloween!