1. Open your mind

Let your imagination be your guide. You don’t have to look like a monster from a movie or off of a package. Go, for something different, go as your monster-self.  That way, you can incorporate pretty much whatever you want too. Be original.

2. Don’t overcomplicate

Once you have a vision, don’t do something to elaborate, be true to your capabilities and wallet. If you can’t sew, don’t start now. If you only have 10 bucks, you may have to go as a clown instead of the Bride of Frankenstein.  If you do something ordinary, like a clown; do it up. The clown could be crazy, a zombie, a vampire, or even a hungry clown.

3. Use what you already have

Go through your closet, looking for old or funky clothes that you can incorporate into your costume.  This is a good way to cut down costs. Don’t just look in your closet, look in your garage, kitchen, bathroom, anywhere really; you never know where you are going to find that thing. If you have a big cardboard box, you imagination can really take off, you can be an aquarium, TV, or even a can of frosting. Again, make it your own. Don’t just be a can of frosting, be the coolest freaking frosting out there.

4. Plan, plan, plan

Once you have gone through your closet and have a clear idea as to what you want to do, jot down a quick list of what you need and ONLY what you need.

5. Shop at second-hand stores

Once you have an idea, take a week and go visit second-hand stores. During the season, they carry Halloween items that others have discarded. If you have your plan, you know exactly what you need to make your vision come true.  Don’t forget to look for accessories.

6. Shop around

If you have yet to figure out what to do, go to Halloween stores or browse online for ideas. But, don’t buy anything right away. Figure out how you can take that idea and make it your own.  Then shop around, go to different places and see what catches your eye.

7. Play off of someone else’s costume

If your boyfriend/girlfriend is going as something, try to enhance their costume by doing something hilarious. If your boyfriend is going as a rat, dress in yellow and go as cheese. If your girlfriend is going as Barbie, put on a pair of shorts, polo and flip flops and go as her Ken.

8. Make your own accessories

Accessorizing your costume can be the most expensive.  If you didn’t find anything at thrift stores, you can make your own. Cardboard and foil can be your best friends, use them. Spirit gum is cheap and useful, it can actually adhere things to your body without any repercussions. If you want to be a hairy ballerina, get some cheap stuffed animals and cut their hair off. Glue it all over with spirit gum and enjoy your hair.