10 Budget-Friendly DIY Thrift Store Halloween Costume Ideas

Halloween costumes seem to get more expensive every year, don't they? But, really, who wants a pre-packaged Halloween costume when you can have an inventive and creative costume that cost you pennies on the dollar to make? Skip the Halloween-themed stores this year and check out your local thrift store. Thrift Store Halloween costumes allow you to be super creative without spending a lot of money. You'd be surprised just how many of the awesome costumes you see each year are worn by people who got their Halloween costumes from thrift stores. Don't be left out of the fun. Here are 10 great Halloween costumes from thrift stores.

Thrift store Halloween costume #1

The Devil
The Devil is a Halloween staple, and no wonder, as this holiday is all about ghoulies and creepy stuff. Whether you are making a costume for a kid or an adult, a thrift store Halloween costume is your best bet for constructing a great Devilish look. Buy red pants and a shirt, and have a scrap of red fabric leftover to make horns.

Thrift store Halloween costume #2

Bride of Frankenstein

Another classic Halloween costume on a budget is the Bride of Frankenstein. Buy a cheap wedding dress as your local thrift store and make your hair as big as you can get it. Variations include the Zombie Bride, which would just involve some greenish face paint, or Bride of the Devil, if you dye the dress red.

Thrift store Halloween costume #3

The Mummy

You'll need enough yards of muslin to wrap around the Mummy, and for the best look, tear the strips instead of cutting. If you can't find muslin at the thrift store, the next best thing would be an old cotton bed sheet, in white, off-white or ivory.

Thrift store Halloween costume #4

The Gypsy

Guys and gals can pull off the gypsy look, according to this article. Men will not need a codpiece, and the ladies will need a long, flowing skirt, preferably in a bright color, and lots of jewelry in the form of rings, bangles, necklaces, and earrings. A head scarf is essential for either gender.

Thrift store Halloween costume #5

Super Mario Brothers

Whether you are a fan of the old school Super Mario Brothers Nintendo games or you love the new games for the Wii, you can easily come up with your own Luigi and Mario Halloween costumes from thrift store shopping. This article tells you how.

Thrift store Halloween costume #6

The Nerd

You'll need a white dress shirt, a pocket protector, some cheap plastic glasses, and tight pants. You probably have some of these items already, so get a cheap pair of reading glasses at the thrift store and pop out the lens and you're good to go.

Thrift store Halloween costume #7

80s Prom Queen

Have you ever noticed how many ugly prom dresses are for sale at your local thrift store? We're taking giant bows, sequins galore, and puffy sleeves. Ignore those fashion faux pas no longer and glory in the wonders of the 80s prom queen. You'll need a dress, the gaudier the better, the biggest, crunchiest hair you can manage, and bright eye shadow to complete the look.

Thrift store Halloween costume #8

Cowboy / Cowgal

You'll need denim jeans or a denim skirt, a plaid flannel shirt, some rope, and a cowboy hat, all easily found at your local thrift store. Horse not required, but if you found one of those kids' hobby horses cheap, why not have a pretend horse to ride?

Thrift store Halloween costume #9

The Zombie

The perennial favorite, hands down, is the zombie. Whether you want to be a cheerleader zombie, a sports player zombie, a doctor zombie, a prom zombie, or whatever is completely up to you. You'll need an outfit, green face paint, and fake blood.

Thrift store Halloween costume #10

Tips for designing your own costume

Okay, so it's not exactly a specific costume idea, but this article offers costume ideas and tips for using what you have on hand to create your own unique look. So if you want something a little different, but you're not sure where to start, this is the article for you.