Cheap Halloween Costumes for Kids

Some tips for cheap Halloween costumes may end up being more than you can afford. This year is especially tough for many families. Trying to afford a Halloween costume for your kids when you can't even pay your bills on time can be a challenge. I have had several ideas over the years when we've been strapped for cash that will help you make cheap Halloween costumes for kids.

Feel free to expand on these ideas for cheap Halloween costumes for kids. You may even develop your own cheap ideas after reading some of these. Be sure to include you child in the process. This is a chance to make your child feel special that they can help make their very own Halloween costume. You don't want them to feel bad that they can't have the more expensive Halloween costumes some of their friends may be wearing.

Cheap Halloween Costumes for Kids Under $5.00

Werewolf Cheap Halloween Costume for Kids. One of my teenage daughters helped me with this idea. My 8 year old will be going as just this type of werewolf this year. Start with a black or brown outfit. If your child doesn't have black or brown pants, dark blue jeans would go with a black shirt. Long sleeved is best for a werewolf costume. You can even choose browns as light as tan for this cheap costume.

For make-up, you can get a cheap make-up palette at most discount stores for $2.00 or less. Choose or mix colors to match your child's shirt. Carefully make big, bushy eyebrows for your little werewolf. Finish with big, bushy sideburns. Tease your child's hair. Add a pair of cheap vampire fangs (also under $2.00), but be sure your child wears them upside down for the werewolf effect. If you have the extra money, you can add to the costume with some colored spray for hair. Use this sparingly after teasing, and match the color with your child's outfit.

Modern Vampire Cheap Halloween Costume for Kids. With Twilight taking off so well, vampires don't have to wear all black and dress in capes anymore. Start with any of your child's favorite outfits. No, they don't have to look like Edward or Bella. Remind them, they are the vampire for this! For example, "You're Cindy the vampire".

You can use one of those cheap make-up palettes mentioned above. Mix up a skin tone shade slightly lighter than your child's natural skin tone, then make it a bit grayer. Be sure to add slight shadows under the eyes. Apply make-up to eyelids to match your child's eye color. Carefully line your child's eyes (if possible) with a dark color. Darken the lips slightly - no bright reds! Smooth the hair and let it hang. Add your cheap pair of vampire fangs and your little vampire is ready to hit the town.

Ghost Cheap Halloween Costume for Kids. Yes, kids still do the sheet for a ghost idea, at least in our area. Although this costume is cheap, it will require more work on your part.

This is a modified version, to allow the head to remain uncovered. Cut an opening out of the center of the sheet to allow your child's head to poke through. Place the sheet over the child. Use a light washable marker to mark the bottom of the sheet where you will cut to prevent the sheet from dragging the ground. Have your child hold his or her arms up and out at the sides, then mark the sheet at the wrists. You will cut here as well so the child can us his or her hands. Remove the sheet. Cut the bottom in jagged edges. Cut out where the hands will come out. You can pin or sew the sides from the wrists down to prevent the clothing underneath from being seen, but leave enough opening for the hands.

Use the cheap palette make-up to color to give your child a whitish face. Try to make the color with a hint of gray. Add slightly darker color under and around the eyes for a hollowed effect. You can use baby powder in your child's hair. Be careful to avoid creating a lot of dust that your child may inhale. Rub the powder in a little. This will also help create a messy haired look. For a "I just crawled out of the grave" look, you can add a couple of slight brownish streaks to your child's face.

Cheap Halloween Costumes for Kids Under $10.00

Black Cat Cheap Halloween Costume for Kids. Start with a black outfit of any type. If your child doesn't have black, you can make a blue cat, pink cat, whatever color of cat you want. Just be sure all the colors match in the end. If you have black, many stores have a tail/headband ears pack for less than $10.00. Otherwise you will have to make your own. You can buy a headband in a matching color, cut ear shapes out of colored felt sheet and attach to headband. Cut out a matching tail. You may have to attach a couple of pieces of felt together to make a long enough tail. You can get a headband, felt sheets and glue for about $5.00 for what you need. You may need a safety pin to attach the tail.

Use the cheap palette make-up to add a pink upside-down triangle for the nose. You can make the whiskers in the color to match your child's outfit. For an added expense, you can use the color spray to lightly color your child's hair in the matching color of the cat outfit if desired.

Witch/Warlock Cheap Halloween Costume for Kids. Some dollar stores have witch costumes for under $10.00 for kids. This should include the gown and hat. But a long black skirt and shirt will do the trick. For the warlock, all your child needs is a black outfit and the witch's hat. If you have extra money, you can add a wand, but with Harry Potter being so big, you could probably use a small branch off of a tree for this.

For a more traditional witch, you can use a cheap palette make-up to make your child's skin a pale green. Otherwise, the skin can be left alone for this costume. The hair can be teased or smoothed for a witch depending on the style your child prefers. If you have the extra money, you can add color spray for your child's hair to lightly color the hair black, but this is optional. Modern witches have any hair color.

More Cheap Halloween Costumes for Kids

Using the ideas you've read here, you may be able to develop your own cheap Halloween costumes for kids. You could make a grim reaper, princess, ninja, American Indian, cowboy/cowgirl or soldier, just to name a few. Be sure to check out your local dollar stores for ideas. Dollar Tree has lots of accessories you can pull together for an outfit. Dollar General and Family Dollar have some inexpensive costumes, and they also have accessories so you can make your own.

Don't forget to check your local thrift and resale stores. You may find very unique and interesting cheap Halloween costume ideas for your kids.

With a little planning and some help from your kids, you can assemble cheap Halloween costumes for kids this year. Who knows, your kids may enjoy it so much you may be able to get away with cheap Halloween costumes for kids for many years to come.