Budget costume ideas you NEED for Halloween

One of the biggest fancy dress nights of the year is almost here - make sure you're getting involved and not getting left behind!

If your bank account is already feeling the strain of student life, here are 5 Halloween costumes you can create for less than £10...

1. Pennywise The Clown

Transform yourself into Stephen King's creepiest creation on the cheap! All it takes is a little DIY and a few key props... 


Approx cost: £9-10

• Clothing: Wear a white onesie, add a belt and some homemade red pom poms stitched down the front.
• Hair and makeup: The basic look is created with white, red and black face paint and a red wig. False teeth are optional! Check out this makeup tutorial if you really want to go for it.
• Accessories: It's likely a flatmare or course friend will have a tutu lying around from Freshers' Week, which will make the perfect neck ruff! Simply cut it to size and voila! Now all you need is the iconic balloon. 

2. Zombie OAP

This one can be either scary or funny and is super versatile - just throw an outfit together using some OAP style garms from your local charity shop! 

Approx cost: £8-9

• Clothes: Think Grandad cardigans, braces, cords, slack pants, Granny dresses, headscarves, flat caps, tan tights and slippers. 
• Hair and makeup: Add talcum powder or dry shampoo to your hair to give it a greyish/white colour and follow either an OAP makeup tutorial or a zombie one for a creepier look.

3. Cereal Killer

Quick, easy and cheap to make and it shows you've thought outside the (cereal) box too!

Approx cost: £6-7

• Clothing: Simply cut up as many different cereal boxes as you can and cover your jumper, top or dress in them. Then just add some fake blood (food colouring works too) and plastic knives!
• Hair and makeup: Non required. This look is seriously low maintenance.

4. Mummy

Choose between a fully layered up look or a bit of strategically placed bandage and don't forget the blood and cobwebs!


Approx cost: £5-6

• Clothing: You'll need either some bandages, an old bedsheet or a few white t-shirts that you don't mind cutting up. You'll also need some safety pins to hold it all in place.
• Hair and makeup: You're going for the zombie look so grey face paint and fake blood are your essentials. Talc or dry shampoo your hair for an ancient dusty look that's straight from the tomb.

5. Black cat

If your budget and effort levels are running particularly low, you can still take part with this old classic!

Approx cost: £5

• Clothing: Dress in head to toe black clothing (choose something fitted for that streamlined feline look!). 
  Next, make the cat ears and tail using whatever you have in your flat or buy some cheap ones (try pound shops, Primark or Wilkos).
• Hair and makeup: Use an eyeliner to draw on whiskers and a nose and either put your hair in cat-ear-style bunches or leave it down and sleek. 

Happy Halloween!