Whether you’ve partied over the past weekend, are about to start a bender on Thursday, or just want to dress up at home, costumes are at the heart of Halloween celebrations. This is your sign to not be intimidated by the planners of our world—those who’ve had their outfits ready since last Halloween—and to embrace creative solutions. The following recommendations for costumes on a budget are not only cheap, but also trendy and easy to put together last minute!

Search for inspiration

Thanks to the internet, there are endless sources of costume inspiration for Halloween. Searching for “DIY halloween costumes” on Pinterest is an easy way to get started. Thousands of photos are available and often more relevant than what you’d find through a simple Google search. When you find something you like, the algorithm will look for similar pins to explore. A costume can be anything you want it to be! Some good places to start are your favourite characters from movies, singers in iconic tour outfits, and even inanimate objects. Gone are the days of needing your choice to be recognized—Halloween is all about enjoying yourself. If you want to go as a jar of pickles, nothing’s stopping you.

Look into your closet

Now that you have an idea of what you want to dress up as, it’s time to take inventory. Before heading to your nearest Spirit Halloween, take a look at your own clothes. If historical accuracy is not a problem for you, then substituting in a shirt or an accessory that’s a few shades off-model is an easy way to save money. It’s a good idea to ask any friends for items as well—just make sure to return it vomit-free afterwards. If your wardrobe is looking a little bare, be on the lookout for clothing swaps, where you can exchange second-hand outfits, or dig through the closet of a generous friend. Additionally, going to a thrift store and checking their seasonal aisle is a budget-friendly alternative. Also, if you’re going to buy a piece of clothing you know you’ll only wear once, try to donate these items once Halloweekend is over.

Get creative

To elevate your everyday clothes to fantastical levels, try a bit of arts and crafts. Do-it-yourself projects do not have to be time-consuming, complicated, or permanent. A few pieces of masking tape can last you throughout the night, and the next morning your clothes will return to normal. With just some scissors, markers, and a basic sewing kit, you can make virtually anything. Plus, it’s always nice to get a compliment on a costume and be able to say you made it yourself!

Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends: The only thing more fun than making costumes is making costumes with friends. If your make-up skills are not up to par, you might know someone who’s eager to test their special effects skills on you. You can even turn a somewhat tedious task into a fun get-together. Just buy masquerade masks from the dollar store and form your troupe of black swans, jesters, or musketeers! 

Some ideas to get you started

Here are some costume ideas you need to try this year:

• Art, Tashi, and Patrick from Challengers (2024): All of the characters in this film wear pretty normal clothes. If you own a tennis racket, it’ll be pretty easy to dress up as any of the three. This goes for any sports-related costumes: Props are your best friend.
• Olympic breakdancer: All you need to embody your inner Raygun is a fully green outfit and some confidence. The best part about this costume? You can test out some crazy dance moves and say it’s all in character.

Post-ironic Brat: It’s time to accept that while brat summer is over, brat autumn has just begun. In fact, brat will never end. Between remix albums and world tours, maybe we all need to pick up a sharpie and a neon green shirt this Halloween. The good thing about brat shirts is that you can write whatever costume you wish you’d bought; just make sure it’s in a lower case font.