How to Save a Billion Dollars on Your Costume

by Julie Coulter Bellon

I heard yesterday that Americans will spend four billion dollars on Halloween costumes and decorations. Wow. But in these difficult economic times, if you aren’t one of the lucky few with a billion to spend so that you can buy a store-bought costume of a one size fits all M&M or an Indiana Jones jacket, you will have to be creative in your costume. So today I am going to share with you ten of the best simple, homemade costumes I’ve seen.

1. The Babe Magnet—Wear an old suit coat with Barbies attached all over it and you are now a babe magnet.
   
   
2. The “Cereal” Killer—Wear an old suit coat with those tiny cereal boxes all over it, with a plastic knife sticking out of them and some fake blood and then you are now a “cereal” killer.
   
   
3. Deer Revenge--Make deer antlers out of a paper bag, (can use wire to make them stiffer) and glue them to a hunter’s hat. Put some black makeup on your nose to complete your deer self, and dress in orange. Carry a toy gun.
   
   
4. Dirty Clothes Hamper--Cut a hole in the bottom of an old laundry basket, big enough for you to fit through. Use clothesline twine to make suspenders to hold the basket up and put some clothes in it.
   
   
5. The Lame Excuse—Wear a white shirt and use a cane. On colored post-it notes, write down all the excuses you can think of—my dog ate my homework, I feel a migraine coming on, I didn’t understand the rules, etc. Then put the post it notes on your shirt and you are now a lame excuse.
   
   
6. Road Kill--Wear black pants and a black shirt. Put white tape down the middle of you for a dotted line to make your road. Attach a bloodied stuffed animal and you are now road kill!
   
   
7. Smarty Pants—Attach Smarties candies all over your pants (by sewing or by safety pin) and you are now a smarty pants.
   
   
8. A Blind Referee—Wear a striped shirt that looks like a referee’s, sunglasses and a cane or stick to round out this costume.
   
   
9. Static Cling Costume—Randomly attach socks and other laundry items to your clothing and don’t forget the dryer sheet!
   
   
10. It’s Raining Cats and Dogs—Attach some stuffed animals (cats and dogs) to an umbrella. Wear a raincoat and carry the umbrella because it’s raining cats and dogs.
    

When you are done at your party or with your trick or treating, then you can relax with a story from Edgar Alan Poe, perhaps, or watch an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Although, I’m more of an “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” girl.

Anyway, I hope you have a safe and happy Halloween. If you have some more creative costume ideas, post them, I’d love to see what you’re wearing!