Hello, everyone!
Halloween creeps up faster than a black cat across a moonlit path, and with it comes the annual scramble for a costume that dazzles without draining your purse. Fancy dress shops tempt us with €50-plus ensembles, but why surrender to that when a rummage through your wardrobe, a dash to the charity shop, or a few clever purchases can yield something utterly spooktacular? This year, I’ve curated ten thrifty Halloween costumes that lean on everyday bits, clever recycling, and minimal spending – most clocking in under €12 if you need to buy a prop or two. Whether you’re off to a party, trick-or-treating with little ones, or simply fancy a selfie session, these ideas prove that imagination trumps expense. Let’s dive in!
1. Classic Ghost (Cost: €0–€2)
The timeless ghost remains unbeatable for simplicity and zero cost. Grab an old white sheet (check your linen cupboard or a charity shop), cut eye holes, and drape it over yourself. For extra flair, use black eyeliner to draw dark circles around your eyes or dust with flour for a dusty effect. Add a length of lightweight chain (a broken necklace or €1 from a Chinese bazaar) to clank as you glide. It’s instant, eerie, and recyclable – simply launder the sheet afterwards. Pro tip: Practise your best “boo” in the mirror to perfect the haunt.
2. Scary Scarecrow (Cost: €2.50–€8)
Channel rustic horror with a scarecrow that looks plucked from a forsaken field. Start with an old plaid shirt and jeans (borrow from a mate if needed), then stuff the sleeves and legs with newspaper for that stuffed silhouette. Fashion a hat from cardboard wrapped in burlap (or an old sack – charity shops often stock them for €1.50), and paint your face with patchy brown makeup or eyeliner stitches. Raffia or dried grass from the garden poked into cuffs adds authentic straw. A €2.50 plastic pitchfork from a €2 shop completes the look. It’s comfy for all-night wear and brilliantly creepy under dim lights.
3. Zombie Office Worker (Cost: €1.50–€6)
Transform your daily grind into undead terror. Don your regular work attire – shirt, tie, skirt, or trousers – then distress it with scissors for rips and tea stains for “blood” (or red food colouring). Smear cheap green face paint (€1 from Flying Tiger) for pallid skin, add fake blood (€1.50 tube from a bazaar), and mess up your hair with gel. Carry a stapler as a “brain-craving” accessory. This one’s perfect for last-minute plans; raid the kitchen for cornflour to thicken your gore. Colleagues will appreciate the satirical bite.
4. Black Cat (Cost: €3–€9)
Sleek, mysterious, and effortlessly chic – the black cat is a perennial favourite. Wear all black (leggings and a top you already own), craft ears from cardboard covered in black paper or felt (€1 offcuts from a stationer), and attach to a headband. Draw whiskers and a nose with eyeliner, and pin a tail from black tights stuffed with socks. For sparkle, add a charity-shop collar with a bell (€2). It’s cosy, dance-friendly, and doubles as a subtle nod to bad luck. 'Meow' is optional but encouraged.
5. Mummy Dearest (Cost: €1–€4.50)
Wrap yourself in history with this bandage-bound classic. Use an old white T-shirt or sheet torn into strips (free), or buy a roll of cheap crepe bandage from the pharmacy (€3–€4). Wrap haphazardly, leaving gaps for eyes and mouth, and secure with safety pins. Dust with talcum powder for an ancient, dusty vibe, and add red paint for oozing wounds. It’s forgiving on body types and unravels dramatically as the night progresses – embrace the chaos!
6. Witch on a Budget (Cost: €4–€12)
Brew up enchantment without the premium price tag. A black dress or skirt-and-top combo forms the base; layer with a shawl or scarf for texture. Craft a hat from black cardstock rolled into a cone and brim (50¢ materials from a papeterie), and wield a broomstick from garden twigs bound with string. Green face paint for warts and a €1.50 plastic cauldron bucket from a Chinese shop, and you’re set. Customise with household “potions” in jars. This one scales from cute to cackling crone.
7. Skeleton Crew (Cost: €2.50–€8)
Bones never go out of style. Black leggings and a long-sleeve top are your canvas; use white electrical tape (€1.50 a roll from a hardware store) or fabric paint (€2.50) to sketch ribs, a spine, and limbs. A skull mask can be drawn with face paint or a €4 printed version from a bazaar. Glow-in-the-dark paint elevates it for nighttime prowls. It’s slimming, flexible for movement, and pairs brilliantly with friends for a group skeleton dance troupe.
8. Vampire Victim (or Vamp) (Cost: €3–€9)
Sink your teeth into drama affordably. A white shirt splashed with fake blood (€1.50) and ripped at the collar screams “bite me". Add fangs from a €2 kit at a €2 shop, pale foundation, and red lipstick drips. For a full vampire, reverse it with a charity-shop cape (€4) or a black bin liner fashioned into one. It’s versatile – switch from predator to prey mid-party. Garlic is optional.
9. Retro Robot (Cost: €4–€10)
Beep boop into the future with cardboard ingenuity. Two boxes (one for the head, one for the body – raid recycling or buy for €1.50), covered in foil (kitchen roll, 50¢). Add dryer hose arms (€2.50 if buying from a plumbing section), bottle-cap buttons, and LED lights from old fairy lights. Paint details with marker pens. It’s boxy, fun, and a hit with sci-fi fans. Stomp around for full effect.
10. Forest Fairy Gone Wrong (Cost: €5–€12)
Twist whimsy into woodland menace. A green or earthy dress (or layered tops), adorned with leaves from the park (free) or fake ones (€2 pack from a craft aisle). Craft wings from coat hangers bent and covered in tights or netting, sprinkled with glitter. Add a twig crown and smudged makeup for a feral edge. It’s ethereal yet earthy, perfect for outdoor gatherings, and reuses summer picnic bits.
There you have it – ten Halloween costumes that keep your wallet intact while unleashing your creativity. The secret? Shop your own home first, then charity shops, Chinese bazaars, or bargain shops for gaps. Many rely on makeup and DIY, which you likely already possess or can share with friends. Total potential spend across all? Under €80 if crafting multiples, but realistically far less per outfit.
Halloween thrives on fun, not funds. These ideas adapt to solo, couple, or group scenarios, and most clean up easily for next year. Plus, the satisfaction of a handmade costume beats any off-the-shelf version.
What’s your go-to budget Halloween costume, or which of these will you try this year? Pop your answer in the comments below – I’d love to hear your twists and triumphs!
