Funny Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas

Lack of time or money doesn't have to keep you from celebrating Halloween in style.halloween image by Nicolas D from Fotolia.com

Sometimes Halloween seems to sneak up on you, and you are left with little time or funds to decide on your costume. Fortunately, creating a funny Halloween costume doesn't have to mean spending a lot of money. With a little creativity and a few affordable supplies, you can put together a resourceful ensemble that is sure to elicit a laugh or two at your Halloween celebration.

Dirty Laundry

If you are running low on time to prepare for a Halloween party, you might also be running low on time to complete other tasks, such as doing your laundry. Put that pile of clothing to work in your silly Halloween getup, and go to the party as "Dirty Laundry." Simply dress yourself in a solid black outfit, like a long-sleeved shirt and sweatpants. Cut a hole in the top and sides of a mesh laundry bag, so that you can stick your head and arms through to wear it over your clothes. Then, use clothespins to attach lightweight pieces of laundry to the bag. For added effect, you can even tuck a few extra pieces into your shoes. To make your costume easier to identify, hang an empty box of laundry detergent around your neck. Your fellow party goers will get a kick out of low-budget costume.

Everyone can relate to the nuisance of "junk" mail, especially the kind that sneaks its way into an email inbox. Capitalize on this Internet pest by going to your Halloween party as a new kind of beast: the "Spam Monster." Open your spam folder in your e-mail account and print out any piece of junk mail you can find, accumulating at least 40 messages. Trim the messages down to varying sizes, and make them look distressed by fraying their edges or crumpling them up like garbage. Use safety pins to attach the messages all over your clothing. For an added touch, come up with a few cheesy spam offers to recite to guests who have a tough time guessing your costume.

This costume will get a laugh out of a group of friends or family who are familiar with your significant other. Celebrate Halloween dressed as your spouse. This costume is particularly cheap, because you already have access to all of her clothing. Select one of her favorite outfits; be sure to "fill it out" using balloons or other stuffing. You will likely need a wig to transform your look, and simply borrow your spouse's makeup to disguise your face. If your partner has a well-known hobby or occupation, carry around a prop or two to help make your costume more obvious--a pile of books for a teacher, for example. For an added surprise, keep your costume plan a secret from your spouse until the celebration.