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5 Homemade Halloween Costumes that Won’t Break Your Budget!

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at JMU chapter.

It’s that time of the year again: crisp mornings, pumpkin spice lattes, and football. And we all know what that means—Halloween is right around the corner!

Just like with any Halloween, I’m sure you want to stand out at a party but don’t want to drain your wallet. Well ladies, Pinterest once again has come to the rescue. Here are some cute and cheap ideas that I uncovered so you and your friends can stand out this Halloween while sticking to your budget!

1. iPod
 

This idea is sure to be a hit at any party and won’t hurt your wallet.
All you need is a pillowcase (a different colored one for each of your friends), a paper plate, and computer paper. First, you cut the pillowcase to make a strapless dress, and add some elastic or ribbon at the top to keep it up.

Then, print off a screen shot of your favorite playlist from iTunes and tape it to your dress. Finally, cut the center of a paper plate and write in the buttons. Viola! You’ve got yourself an iPod. 

2. Loofah
I’ve seen almost every costume idea out there, but this one was new to me. Get some colored tulle or netting and cut it into equal lengths. Fold those sections over, and then tie them around an elastic waistband and top you plan to use. You can also just safety pin the tulle to your underclothes. Keep repeating that until you are all loofah-ed out! Add some string and a cute headband for a finishing touch. 
 
3. Hot Sauce Packets
This one is always my favorite. If you and your friends want to be, well, hot, this Halloween, this idea is perfect. Get orange, red, and yellow fabric or pillowcases and make a dress. Cut out white letters that say, “Fire”, “Hot”, and “Mild”. You can come up with more descriptions if you have more girls. Then, underneath the sauce description, come up with a cute “saucy” saying. Try things like “Open Quickly…I’m burning up in here!” Let your imagination take over. 

4. Words With Friends
We all know the game. And now we all know how cute it would be as a Halloween costume. This is perfect if you’re going out with a huge group of girls (or even guys!) because you can spell out “Words With Friends”. Or if you want to spell something different, go for it! For this costume, dress in black leggings and t-shirts. Then print out huge letters on yellow computer paper and create rounded corners on the edges. Stick it to some cardboard to keep it sturdy. It’s that easy and that cheap. And everyone will love how creative and unique your idea is! 
 
5. Four of a Kind
This costume resembles what you might wear out to an ABC party, but that just means it’s that easy to make. Get ahold of some white duct tape and wrap it up to make a dress. With black and red permanent markers, draw an ace of hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs. Now you and three other friends are four of a kind! 

So, ladies, this Halloween there will be no need to drop $50 on a “been-there-done-that” costume. Get creative with these DIY ideas and prepare to steal the spotlight!
 

Chantal Johnson is a senior at James Madison University, studying Media Arts and Design with a concentration in Digital Video and Cinema. Aside from Her Campus JMU, she is involved with University Program Board. Chantal loves hanging out with her friends, listening to her "feel good" playlist on her iPod, or just curling up with a really good book in her spare time. Chantal loves her hometown, Roanoke,Virginia, but can't wait to graduate and explore her opportunities around the world! Within the next 10 years, Chantal's dream job would be becoming "the next Shonda Rhimes"!