How to Make a Tacky Tourist Costume

Halloween is coming, and with a tough economy looming, not everyone has the money to spend on a new costume. One idea for a cheap yet funny costume is to dress as a tacky tourist. It's highly recognizable and you can use alot of items you probably already have at home. Here are some tips on how to create this costume cheaply.

First, start with the core of the costume and pick an outfit. You can probably use items you already have in your closet. A pair of shorts (khaki colored works best), a tee-shirt (especially if it's from a previous vacation where it names a place you've been), and a button-down shirt to top it off work well together. And it's worth extra points if you have a button-down Hawaiin shirt. If you don't own a Hawaiin style shirt, you can easily shop for one online and get some reasonable prices. You may even be able to find one at your local Wal-Mart, Target or Old Navy store.

Next are your shoes. Anything would work with this outfit, whether you wear sneakers or flip flops. But if you'd like to get real tacky and get some laughter from others, sandals (the darker the better) with a pair of socks (the lighter the better) works like a charm. Hiking boots could also work with this ensemble.

Now comes the real fun part - accessories. Your imagination is the limit with this part of your costume. Some classic ideas are: a camera (especially if you can get a strap so you can wear it around your neck), a lei, sunglasses, a hat (especially straw), small luggage, and a tacky drink cup (think fruit-shaped cups or cups with logos of theme parks). Also, it might be fun to apply bright white sunblock to your nose and carry around maps.

And lastly, but most importantly, don't forget attitude. This is the one time of year you can really get into character and not get strange looks from people. Don't be afraid to walk up to random people and ask where the local hot spots are or where the closest hotel is. This is especially more fun if you have a partner in crime who also dresses as a tourist, and you can speak loudly to each other and say things like, 'Look honey, a real native!' and pose for photos with people while using your camera. The more enthusiastic you are about it, the more fun you will have, not to mention the more fun people around you will have.

Halloween is a great holiday to have fun with your family and friends. This Halloween, you can still have all the fun without breaking the bank.