We are just a few days before October 31st and you have yet to find a costume. More than that, because you understand the importance of saving, you are unwilling to derail your savings goal for this year by splurging on a one day event. For some, that is not the case. According to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Halloween Consumer Spending Survey. One of five households plan to spend more this year than last year.
Scared to open your wallet?
Don’t worry!
We have you covered. Here are 25 last minute costume ideas that are effortlessly frugal to help you stay on track with your savings this year. And just for those of us who procrastinate, they are divided into three categories; zero effort, minimal effort, and so easy you should be ashamed of yourself.
ZERO EFFORT AND COST
For the simple fact that you have decided to dress up, these costumes cannot truly be zero effort costumes. However, they will require just a bit more effort than it takes to roll over and slap your alarm snooze button in the morning. These costumes are also a frugal celebration! Each costume should cost next to nothing because if you are missing the necessary items, you can likely borrow them. Most of these items you will have around the house. If you don’t, skip the costume and try another!
1) Self Portrait
For this costume, you will need to grab a frame from your wall. Set aside the photos as well as the backing and glass front. Then, take the frame and hold it in front of your face. Voila. You are now a self portrait.
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Gold Portrait
2) Thug
The thug defies the conventions of the world. Remember the song ‘pants on the ground’ by American Idol contestant General Larry Platt? Yep, this costume simply requires you to wear your pants below your waist. Include a beanie and sunglasses if you want to take this look further.
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Long Sleeve
3) Horror Doll
The horror doll is inspired by __ from Halloween 2. For this costume you will need a long white night gown. Pull your hair into two pony tails and draw red or pink lips. Then use black liner for your eyes to finish the look.
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Long White Night Gown
4) Hippie
The hippie costume is perfect for the person who never really grew up. Search your parent’s closet for the perfect pieces. It is likely that they have bell bottoms, a tie-dye shirt, and a headband.
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Flyaway Top
Bell-Bottom Wide Flared Jeans
Platform Shoes
Aviator Sunglasses
Beads Necklace
Alloy Gold Plated Shaped Leaves Feather Y-Necklace
5) Nerd
Grab a few books, a pair of glasses, and suspenders if you have them. The nerd costume requires an extraordinary actor. Apply white tape to the bridge of your glasses and push them higher off your nose often. Imagine Steve Urkel. Yep, that’s you if you choose this costume.
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Oversized BLACK Framed Eye Glasses
Suspenders
Pink Polka Dots Tshirt
6) Website Error
For this costume, you simply need a white shirt, marker, and a snarky attitude. Draw the words, 404 costume not found, and you immediately become a website error.
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White Tshirt
7) Tom Cruise, Risky Business
The Risky Business costume requires guts and preferably warm weather. For this costume, grab a white button down t-shirt. Pair it with very short shorts that are not visible below the shirt. Include white socks and a pair of sunglasses. Now you are Tom Cruise.
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White Button Down T-shirt
Very Short Shorts
White Socks
Sunglasses
8) Thief
This costume requires a ski mask, black gloves and black attire. Include a laundry bag full of cloth and draw a dollar sign on it to complete the costume.
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Face Ski Mask
Black Gloves
Black Attire:
Black Stripe Long Sleeve
Skinny Pants
Black Shoes
White Tote Bag
9) Tourist
The tourist is always afraid that if they do not capture the moment with a camera, they will forget their travel experience! Grab a camera, preferably with a neck strap, khaki shorts, and a Hawaiian shirt. Now look up with your camera while walking. Congratulations, you are officially a tourist.
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Camera Neck Strap
Cup
Men:
Khaki Shorts
Hawaiian Shirt
Boonie Hat Summer Sun Caps
White socks
Sandal
Waist Bag
Sunglasses
Women:
Waist Bag
Sandal
White socks
Summer Beach Sun Straw Hats
Hawaiian Shirt
Khaki Pants
10) Kid in Pajamas
Grab your favorite pajamas and a teddy bear. Bonus points if your pajamas are footed. If not, pull a pair of long socks over long pajamas.
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Pajama Set
Teddy Bear
MINIMAL EFFORT AND COST
These costumes require just a bit more effort and cost. They can be completed inexpensively, but you might have to head to your local Walmart to find the missing items.
11) Mummy
A good mummy costume can be completed with one roll of toilet paper. Start with an outfit of white clothing and begin to wrap toilet paper around different sections of your body. Complete the outfit with makeup and a distant look on your face.
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White Tshirt
White Pants
Toilet Paper
Mummy Make Up
12) Ceiling Fan
C-e-i-l to the i-n-g, and that’s how you spell cei-ling! Woo hoo! Go ceiling! Do you have some pom poms? Once you pick up those and shake and shimmy with a chant, you can be a ceiling fan.
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Black Sweater
Glasses
Pom poms
13) Cereal Killer
Almost done with that box of cereal? Good because you’re going to need it. For this costume, you simply need an empty box of cereal and a cardboard knife. Wrap the knife in gray duct tape to simulate a silver knife. Pierce the box of cereal with the knife and tape into place. Then, draw red blood on the box. You cereal killer, you.
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Cardboard Knife
Gray Duct Tape
Fake Red Blood
Long Sleeve White
14) Fork in the Road
This costume begins with black clothing. You will then need white tape and a plastic fork. Use the white tape to create lines on the road simulated by your black clothing. Then tape the plastic fork to your body. Now you have a fork in the road. You get bonus points if you constantly change the direction that you are walking all night.
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Black Sweater
White Tape
Plastic Fork
15) Identity Thief
For this costume, you will need a package of name tags. Write a different name on each tag and tape them to your body. You now have the identity of each of those people and you are officially an identity thief.
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Name Tags
Marker
Gray Shirt
16) Stick Figure
This costume begins with white clothing. Use black tape to outline a stick figure on your body. Create a mask using a paper plate and more black tape.
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Long Sleeve
White Pants
Black Tape
Large Paper Plate
17) Domino
This costume is best when used with friends. Start with black clothing and tape small white paper plates to your body to create the numbered domino effect. A white belt or white tape across your middle section completes the look.
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Black Tshirt
Black Pants
White Paper Plates
White Belt
White Tape
18) Grapes
A bunch of grapes is a costume that does not require a bunch of effort. Start with purple or green clothing. Purchase a bag of purple or green balloons. Fill each one then tape them to your body.
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Long Sleeve (purple,green,red)
Balloons (purple,green,red)
19) Rosie the Riveter
Rosie is the symbol of it can be done! For this costume, you simply need a red bandana and a can do attitude. A jean top is optional but will help pull the look together.
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Red bandana
Half Sleeve Shawl Tee Shirt Crop Tie Top Denim T-shirt
20) Ninja
The ninja costume requires black clothing and red cloth or a red t-shirt. Cut the cloth into strips and tie the pieces of fabric to your wrists, ankles, and head. Take a piece of black fabric and create the covering for your eyes. You can create optional death stars with cardboard cutouts.
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Black Tshirt iWth Hood
Black Pants
Red Cloth
NO EFFORT HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
These no effort Halloween costumes are for the ultimate, last minute, spend nothing party goer. You may have to take a moment or so to explain your costume, so get ready for the puzzled faces. These costumes require so little effort, the descriptions are almost unnecessary. Nonetheless, here they are.
21) Nudist on Strike
Nudists wear nothing. You are on strike. Wear clothes.
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Marker
Garter
Nudist on Strike Tshirt
Nudist on Strike Jacket
22) Facebook
Draw the word BOOK on your face.
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Marker
23) Mixed Greens
Wear green clothes that do not match. Now you are a salad.
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Green Scarf
Green Earrings
Green Blouse
Green Panty
Green Shoes
Green Bag
24) Formal Apology
Wear a suit or tuxedo. Apologize all night.
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Suit or Tuxedo
25) Ghost
The ghost costume requires a white sheet and scissors. Cut out holes for your eyes. Done.
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White Sheet
Scissors
Pumpkin Treat Bucket
Now that you have these low effort and low cost Halloween costumes, you can go back to watching your bank account grow.
Have you tried any of these costumes? Do you know a friend who has?
This post originally appeared on AmericaSaves.org.