Silly And Inexpensive Halloween Costumes

I know it seems a bit early to talk Halloween costumes. After all, it's not even September yet and Halloween is at the end of October! However, stores don't seem to agree. I can't go grocery shopping without seeing displays with costumes, makeup and obscene amounts of candy. It's a wonder I don't gain five pounds just by looking at it! I haven't looked at the prices on the costumes, but I remember what it was like when I was a kid and couldn't really afford them. I made my own costumes since about fifth or sixth grade and, frankly, I don't miss store-bought outfits one bit. If you're in the same boat or you and/or your kids just want to wear something different, here are a few inexpensive and fun ideas for costumes.

Gang Green. When I worked at a call center, we did pretty much anything we could to make the workplace more fun. One Halloween, a small group of people decided on a 'group costume' made up of everyone wearing all green and green face paint. They called themselves 'Gang Green'. Get it? :) Cheesy, but clever. Clever and cheap. That might not be something your kids would want to do, but it could work for an office Halloween party. All you'd need is the face paint, and even that is optional.

A trash heap. Did anyone here watch Fraggle Rock as a kid? It was a Muppet-esque show with all kinds of funny and odd characters. One character I particularly liked was the 'Trash Heap'. It was, well, a trash heap guarded by two obnoxious mosquitos. I don't know about the mosquitos, but it would be relatively easy for you or a child to dress up a trash heap. Just cut holes in a sheet the way you would for a ghost costume and attach 'trash' like crumpled-up paper balls, fast food containers, etc. I'm not suggesting you drag things out of the trash so much as broken plastic cups, disposable dishes or cutlery. You can also draw on it or use a color other than white to make it look even more 'trashy'. If you want, you could cut holes for your arms and wear a long-sleeved shirt. It's fun, unique, and the only things you'll need to buy are the paper and perhaps the dishes.

If you're a Spaceballs fan, you could also tape construction-paper 'pepperoni' and toppings on a yellowish sheet and go as 'Pizza the Hut'. :)

A lemon. Cut leg holes in a 'handled' trash bag. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, put the handles on the shoulders and stuff the bag with newspaper. Depending on what color bag you use, you could either be a lemon, raisin or prune.

An ice-cream sandwich. For this, all you'd have to do is get a couple of pieces of cardboard, cover with aptly-marked construction paper and connect them to be worn over the shoulders. This can be done with yarn or perhaps a 'head-hole' cut in a bent cardboard box. You could also make a traffic light, flag or humorous traffic sign.

As you can see, you don't have to spend a lot of money to make a fun and unique Halloween costume. Except for 'Gang Green', I can guarantee you that no one else will wearing it!