There is no need to spent a bundle on Halloween costumes unless you really want to. Check out your closet, storage room, thrift stores, garage sales and the dollar stores for items you can use to make quick authentic looking costumes. Here are just a few basic ideas to help you get dressed for Halloween on a budget.  The rest is up to your imagination.

Ghost

What You Need: 1 white flat sheet, black marker

Cut eye holes where your eyes would fit. Draw outline around eyes and draw a mouth.  Drape over head and secure outer edges to your wrists with rubber bands. Add an optional metal chain for the scrooge effect.

Frankenstein

What You need: 1 old black or dark colored over sized jacket

Put the jacket on backwards and ask someone to button up at the back.   Simply wet your hair and press hair on your forehead for the Frankenstein look. Or wear green or other face make up with heavy eyebrows. You can also wear the jacket buttoned at the front.

Siamese Twins

What You need: One over sized loose dress for women or girls  and for men or boys over sized shorts or pants, over sized t-shirts,  poly filling or sheet, pins.

For women or girls ,  two people will get into the dress, each gets one dress arm.  For boys or men, attach 2 straps  from front to back of pants to act as suspenders. Share an over sized t-shirt, one arm each and one leg each.

Hula Girl/Boy

What You need:  Brightly colored skirt, wrap or strap dress. Garland or Lei necklace .

For Boys and men wear the skirt  with bare chest or flesh colored T-shirt with garland or Lei around neck. For women wear dress of skirt with mid riff top and garland or Lei. Wrap Lei around wrists for bracelets.

Shepherd or Abraham

What You Need: Heavy tunic or blazer, walking stick , medium sized towel, fabric scarf, dollar store beard.

Remove sleeves and buttons from the tunic. Wear over long sleeve t-shirt. Place towel over head. Twist scarf tightly to look like a braid and wrap around the towel and forehead. Add a beard for effect.

Witch

What You Need: A mid length or long black dress with long sleeves. Dollar store or thrift store witch hat, old broom.

Cut bottom of dress in triangles for a fringed look. Accessorize and apply makeup as required.

Clown

What You Need: Over sized, soft drawstring pants or pajamas, over sized long sleeved T- shirt or top, pompoms, garland crepe paper or ruffles, glue.

Place 3 or 4  the  pompoms down the front of the tunic. Arrange garland, or crepe paper ruffles around the sleeves at wrist and around the neck line and glue in place. Purchase a dollar store clown hat and decorate to your liking.

You can celebrate Halloween in style without breaking the bank.  There are great ways to reuse and recycle items from bargain shops and your own closet ti make great Halloween costumes.