Five Cheap Couples Halloween Costumes for People of All Genders

You and your significant other can make an impression this Halloween, even without much money. How? These cheap Halloween costume ideas are adaptable to any budget and any couple. Read ahead and let your imagination loose.

Playing Card Costumes are a great idea for gamblers or anyone who just likes to have fun. They require a lot of creativity to do on a budget, but a smart artsy type can put these costumes together with butcher paper and spare fabric. With scissors, cut out the symbol of your suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs or spades) from red or black paper. Construct a bandolier or shoulder strap from white or yellow paper, and glue the symbols onto it. Optionally, use extras to adorn the rest of your gear. For King and Queen costumes, cut out a yellow coronet; use fabric scraps to also construct a wimple for the Queen costume. For the Jack, use a red fisherman's hat or paper hat with a feather attached.

The other props vary between decks: the Queen usually carries a flower, the King usually carries a scepter or sword, and the Jack usually carries a spear or axe. Styles of dress vary as well. Queens can wear wide, flowing skirts and Kings can wear long coats. Dress flamboyantly, and wear red accents for hearts or diamonds, and black for clubs or spades. Pair as royalty from the same suit, or go as two of a kind!

Cop and Convict is another great, unisex couples Halloween costume. It requires a little more outlay, but it's not hard to do on a budget with some preparation. Many of the components can be bought at a thrift store. For a convict costume, improvise with a black and white striped top and black miniskirt or black pants, depending on gender. Or wear a baggy orange long-sleeve shirt and orange pants or skirt for the jumpsuit look.

A cop costume depends on props: buy a cheap cop hat at a party store or Halloween store, then either buy a prop kit (usually around $10) or make one: a badge from cardboard and silver paint, a black-painted dowel for a nightstick. Wear these accessories with an all-black outfit and black boots. Alternately, women can tie a black or blue button shirt in front for a sexy twist and wear with a miniskirt.

The clincher -- no pun intended -- is the handcuffs, which need to be purchased. Fuzzy handcuffs are a cute twist. The couple should stay cuffed together during the party.

Two Peas In a Pod requires a large piece of green fabric and green outfits. Both people should wear all green. You're the peas. As for the pod, try to procure velveteen or something nice and soft, at least three yards, and then pinch the ends together to make a "peapod" shape. Stitch or safety-pin in place. Optionally, you can hem it with wire in the hem to firm up the shape. Cut neckholes in the "pod" and let the rest of it drape behind your backs.

The Sun and the Moon is a cheap couples Halloween costume that's beautiful in its simplicity. It requires: one all-yellow outfit (with optional orange details) one all-white outfit (with optional silver details), yellow paper and white cardboard. Cut a large crescent out of the white cardboard and attach it to the shirtfront of the white outfit; cut a circle with pointy "rays" from the yellow paper and attach it to the front of the yellow outfit. Alternately, wear the symbols on hats. Shine brightly!

Finally:

Matching Costumes are a tried and true costume idea for couples. It's easy to make matching pirate or ninja costumes using materials you have at home. See Five DIY Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas for Adults for more information on how to make these, or learn how to make Star Trek Halloween Costumes the Easy Way.