Our top 5 easy DIY Halloween costumes

What to wear and where to get them

Halloween is right around the corner, and chances are you don't wantto blow your whole food budget on a costume you'll wear once. The good news? You don't have to! With a bit of creativity, you can put together a brilliant outfit on the cheaper side.

Here's a mix of scary characters as well as some iconic fun ones you and your flatmates can have a laugh with:

1. Scooby-Doo characters 🔎

A very iconic choice this Halloween - especially for you and your flatmates. 

Here's how cheap and easy you can dress as these characters:

• Daphne: Purple T-shirt, purple skirt and tights, green scarf/tie
• Fred: Blue polo shirt (optional) under a white shirt/t-shirt, blue jeans, orange scarf/tie
• Velma: Orange T-shirt, orange/red skirt, orange tights, black glasses
• Shaggy: Green T-shirt, brown trousers/jeans 
• Scooby: Brown t-shirt/top, brown trousers/skirt (or brown dress), dog-ear headband, blue tie/scarf

2. Alvin and the Chipmunks/Chipettes 🎤

Whether you're a trio or a group of 6, these characters will be a great laugh to dress up as.

• Alvin: Red top/jumper, your choice of trousers, ear headband, yellow A taped on top
• Simon: Blue top/jumper, your choice of trousers, ear headband, yellow S taped on top
• Theodore: Green top/jumper, your choice of trousers, ear headband, yellow T taped on top
• Brittney: Pink top, white skirt/trousers, ear headband
• Jeanette: Purple top, white skirt/trousers, ear headband
• Eleanor: Green top, white skirt/trousers, ear headband

3. Mario and Luigi 🍄

Why not choose Nintendo's favourite duo? If you want to wear their iconic hats, you can find them on Amazon.

• Mario: Red top, dungarees/jeans, red baseball cap, white gloves
• Luigi: Green top, dungarees/jeans, green baseball cap, white gloves

4. Jigsaw 🧩

You can sometimes buy the full outfit at Halloween shops, but if you're on a budget, it's easy to dress as Jigsaw with things you probably already have in your wardrobe - and maybe a trip to the charity shops!

• White shirt (or black shirt if you want to skip the blazer)
• Black blazer
• Black trousers or skirt
• Red bow-tie 

Pop some red spirals on your cheeps, and you're all good to go - even better if you rock up to the party on a bike!

5. Beetlejuice + Lydia 🪲

Another iconic duo you and your friend/partner can dress up as. 

• Beetlejuice:  Black-and-white striped shirt & trousers (or black trousers), black tie.
• Lydia: Iconic red dress with a red veil or a long black skirt, black mesh/lace top, black corset.

Keep it sustainable

The key to Halloween on a student budget is to reuse, re-wear or pass it on. Before you buy anything new, check:

• Facebook Marketplace for cheap props or free stuff.
• Vinted for second-hand clothes you'll actually wear again after Halloween.
• Charity shops for hidden treasures (and lower prices than big retailers).

Halloween doesn't have to cost the earth. With a big of imagination and some second-hand hunting, you'll have a killer outfit without the scary price tag!