Giddy to get your ghoul on this Halloween? It doesn’t take blood money to get a head-turning cheap Halloween costume. These homemade costume ideas won’t just save you money; they might win you a chunk of that costume contest cash!

Sure, making your own Halloween costume is the frugal way to be frightening; but it can also score points for creativity when you walk into a room of guys donning expensively generic celebrity facemasks. You don’t have to have an attic brimming with old garb to pull off a cheap costume; check out your local Salvation Army or Goodwill store for everything you’ll need.

Sheets are for more than ghosts. Don an old sheet for myriad effects. It’s a toga, burqa, loin cloth, and robe all in one. Tear up pieces of several old sheets and pin them together to create a haggard look perfect for going as a vagrant, bum, vagabond, scoundrel, old hag…well, you get the idea.

Your own clothes go a long way. Wear all black and you can be any number of figures like a priest or a thief. Gray sweats with the right make-up can make you any number of animals including a mouse, a bunny, or an elephant. Think you got your Tom Cruise down? Half-decent impersonations can make up for donning everyday clothes in the style of your favorite celeb.

Use props. The right costume jewelry, pair of oversized glasses, or flavor flav clock around your neck can make a costume, even if you’re wearing little else. Dig in the attic or thrift store for the one piece that will make your get-up stand out.

You can make up for shabby attire with creativity. Some examples? Graduate: Don flip flops, a college sweatshirt, and a will work for food sign. Unemployed puppet: Wear whatever you want with a hat that has strings and handles attached. Walk around with the strings dragging. Cast away: muss up your hair and wear cut-off shorts with a wrinkled business shirt. Carry a coconut for good measure. Here are some even better creative costume ideas than I could come up with.

Make Your Own Make Up

Why drop dough on a tube of fake blood you’ll trash tomorrow? If you have some basic foodstuffs around you can make your own costume makeup.

Combine 4 parts cornstarch and 2 parts vegetable shortening and add food coloring to dye. For the best results, clean and dry your face first, apply a super thin layer of moisturizing cream and cornstarch second, and lastly apply the makeup.

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If you’re truly serious about blowing away the costume competition, Elegantly Frugal Costumes will give you the secrets to pro-quality do-it-yourself disguises.

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