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Halloween Costume Ideas That Are Actually Affordable

October 3, 2018 The only thing scarier than the ghosts and ghouls haunting your neighborhood this Halloween? The prices on store-bought costumes. But you can still have a great time without being frightened about your budget. Check out these DIY and low-cost Halloween costume tips and have a happier Halloween. DIY Costume Ideas Not sure where to start? Here’s some quick DIY costume inspo.
  • Toss on some shorts and a jersey and become a world-class athlete. Bonus points if you can find old trophies and medals to go with!
  • Pair a collared shirt with suspenders and glasses to show everyone who’s top of the class. Make it a yellow shirt, and you’ve got yourself a Minion costume.
  • Get in your swimsuit, throw on some shades and a whistle, and you’re sure to be everyone’s favorite lifeguard.
  • Grab a headband, pipe cleaners and other props and create your own animal ears. Mouse, cat, butterfly, bumblebee–the possibilities are endless!
  • Find a large piece of poster paper and cut out a large square, leaving a little bit of room at the bottom. Then, color it in to look like an Instagram photo. Wear it around your neck, and you’ll be blowin’ up with “likes” all night. 
Halloween Shopping Tips If you’ve already got a great idea for a costume, here are some tips to help make it happen on the cheap.
  1. Take Control of Your Purchasing Power If you’re looking to buy a costume, rest assured that there are plenty of ways to avoid paying full price. Try consignment shops or online bargain websites like eBay for gently-used costumes at reduced prices. Also, keep in mind that season matters. The absolute cheapest days to snag a discount on costumes are the day before Halloween, the day of and the day after. If that’s cutting it a bit too close for comfort, you can also find great deals in the winter and summer months when Halloween isn’t on everyone’s mind.
  2. Cutting Costs & Gluing Props Another great cheap alternative is — you guessed it — DIY! Making your own costume with clothes you already own and props from around the house is a sure way to create a costume that’s virtually free. You can also look for coupons for craft stores. Cheap supplies like pipe cleaners and buttons can achieve your desired look without breaking the bank. Not a sewing savant? No worries. Super glue, hot glue or fabric glue are all good options. (Plus, you can use these items all year long for quick fixes around your house.)
  3. Swap, Don’t Shop You’ve got old costumes. Your friends have old costumes. So why not swap? This is especially helpful if you’re a parent whose kids are growing out of their old costumes faster than you can say “trick-or-treat.” Get together with some friends to trade the old, welcome the new, and enjoy the benefits of a “new” costume without the expense.  
It’s no magic spell, but savvy spending (along with a little creativity) can go a long way to help cut costs on your Halloween getup. From all of us here at Summit, have a safe and happy Halloween! You might also be interested in Financial success isn’t how much money you have — it’s feeling good about what you’re doing with the money you have. Here are some tips on how to prioritize your debts and bills, negotiate with creditors and get your late payments back on solid ground. Even in these challenging times, there's  whole lot of good happening! At Summit, we've always believed financial success happens together and that's been truer than ever this past month. Here's what "together" has meant for our community. Navigating finances after college is hard, but you can take it one lesson at a time. Get tips for managing money and paying off student debt after graduation. Navigating finances after college is hard, but you can take it one lesson at a time. Get tips for managing money and paying off student debt after graduation. If you’re not sure if something is a scam, it’s ALWAYS better to act like it could be! Fraudsters are always coming up with creative new ways to steal from you and quick to take advantage of a crisis. Here are some of the most popular recent scams to watch for. With a little planning, you may be able to actually save a little money during the holidays. Check out these tips to keep costs down without missing out on the holiday fun. Some scams go right for your money; others try to get you to part with personal information – like account numbers, Social Security numbers, passwords, and personal identification numbers (PINs). Find out what you should look for and how to protect yourself. The holidays can be stressful & that’s why it’s important to prioritize your self-care. Use these tips to reduce stress without draining your bank account. Your home is your castle, your refuge and—let’s face it—a place where it can be very easy to sink a big chunk of money. Which is why you’re always on the lookout for “sweet spots”:  those home improvements that add comfort, safety or a little zing of style while you’re living in your house and will boost the asking price when it’s time to sell. And if you can find a way to save money on those improvements or cut home expenses at the same time, well that sweet spot just got a little sweeter! Featured Products Certificates Checking Accounts Home Equity Loans Home Loans Business Banking Certificates Checking Accounts Home Equity Loans Home Loans Business Banking Financial Education Upcoming Events Programs Tools & Calculators On-demand Webinars Podcasts Upcoming Events Programs Tools & Calculators On-demand Webinars Podcasts About Equity in Money™ About Summit Careers News Community Giving Equity in Money™ About Summit Careers News Community Giving Help & Support Contact Us Member Support Center Schedule an Appointment Find a Branch Contact Us Member Support Center Schedule an Appointment Find a Branch Please read the following before proceeding to: The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. NCUA Insurance Estimator Privacy, Security & Accessibility Rates, Fees, Terms & Disclosures Routing Number *  The Wisconsin's #1 Mortgage Lender designation is based on the number of loans in 2022, gathered from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data compiled annually by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The results of the data were obtained through the LEI: 254900NTAC4H10MGSU23 **  SBA Lender of the Year Award for Credit Unions as awarded by the Small Business Administration of Wisconsin in 2023. Copyright 2024 © Summit Credit Union. All rights reserved. If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call 608-243-5000 for assistance. Insured by NCUA