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College Budget Friendly Halloween Costumes That Are Actually Cute!

The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Illinois chapter.

I’ve compiled a list of 3 cute and creative halloween costumes that you can create either straight from your closet or purchase on a budget in order to avoid those pricey halloween store costumes!

Gold Digger

This costume will be sure to have everyone laughing once they realize what it is!

Gold Digger: For this costume, you will need to start by finding a black or white top, whether it’s a sweater or a crop top. Then you will need gold sparkly bottoms; you can find tinsel skirts on Amazon which would perfect for this costume, and they are fairly cheap! Then put on ALL the gold jewelry you own- you can even buy a fake chunky gold chain. Finally, you will need a hardhat, preferably a yellow one, that you can find either on Amazon or the Dollar Store, and you can print out a little flash light circle and stick it on the hat. Finally, find a shovel, it can be a tiny plastic shovel (also found at the Dollar Store). Throw a couple of dollar bills in your waistband (Or even Monopoly money) to complete the look!

Fairly ODDParents Fairies

Whether you choose Cosmo or Wanda, this is a costume that brings you back to your childhood.

For Cosmo: You will need some sort of black bottoms whether it is shorts, leggings, jeans, or a skirt. A tie, preferably a black one is also needed (you can steal one from your boyfriends or dads closet!). For the top, you can take a white button down and leave it unbuttoned with a black bralette or you can just grab a white crop top or even a plain white sweater. It wouldn’t be cosmo without the green hair! You can either buy a green hair spray or wax to use on your hair, and they are super cheap! Take some construction paper to create a little crown and wand and pair it with any pair of shoes and there you have it!

For Wanda: Most of this costume is similar to the Cosmo costume. Once again you will need some black bottoms, however for this costume you will need any type of yellow shirt. To keep this budget friendly, buy a cheap plain yellow t-shirt and cut it up into a cute tank or crop! For Wanda, you will need either a pink hair spray or wax, along with the same crow and wand.

girl scout

No need to whip out your old uniform, here’s a costume that requires a little bit of DIY-ing but is totally worth it!

Girl Scout-College Edition: This costume is fairly simple, and can be adjusted based off of pieces in your closet! You’re going to need a plain white top such as a white crop top or white t-shirt, as well as tan/nude bottoms, such a a nude skirt or cargo pants. Find some ribbon lying around, and tie a bow in your hair, and whip out either that construction paper or order a sash on Amazon, and create your own DIY Girl Scout sash. Customize it to whatever you want- this is where you can have some fun and make it creative!. Throw on some Converse or Vans, with some white socks, and you have officially transformed yourself into a girl scout!

Julia Ciura

Illinois '26

Hi! Im Julia Ciura, I got to the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and I am majoring in integrative biology on the pre-PA track. Im from the Chicago suburbs, and I love writing in my free time, especially about beauty, fashion, mental health, and women empowerment!