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30 DIY Halloween Costumes That’ll Save You Money This Year
October 17, 2025
Halloween fun doesn’t have to drain your wallet. Whether you’re dressing up for a party, helping your kids put together a costume, or planning a themed look with friends, there are plenty of creative, budget-friendly ways to make it happen.
At Peoples Savings Bank, we know Missourians love a good community event, from small-town trunk-or-treats to neighborhood costume contests. So, we’ve rounded up thirty fun and easy DIY Halloween costume ideas that’ll save you money and turn heads; no expensive store runs required!
PUNNY & CLEVER COSTUME Ideas
Because who doesn’t love a costume that makes people laugh and think?
1. Cereal Killer
- Concept: Tape empty mini cereal boxes to an old shirt and add a toy knife or red paint “splatter.”
- How to DIY: Save small cereal boxes, flatten or trim them, then hot-glue or tape them to a black or white T-shirt. Add red food coloring or craft paint for splatters and tuck in a plastic knife for effect.
- Why It Works: Instantly recognizable pun; cheap, fun, and an easy conversation starter.
2. Smarty Pants
- Concept: Tape Smarties candies down your pants (or skirt). Add glasses or a book as ensemble.
- How to DIY: Use double-sided tape or safety pins to affix wrapped candies. Carry a notebook or wear a pencil behind the ear.
- Why It Works: It’s simple, sweet, and works for kids or adults alike.
3. Holy Guacamole
- Concept: Dress as an avocado and wear a halo — you’re now the divine dip!
- How to DIY: Green shirt and pants, attach brown felt or paper for the pit, and fashion a halo from wire or a headband plus tinsel.
- Why It Works: A cute pun with visual appeal; fun for all ages.
4. Bread Winner
- Concept: Dress as an athlete and hang a loaf of bread like a medal.
- How to DIY: Use a ribbon to hang a loaf or baguette around your neck. Add a “champion of carbs” sign or bib. Paint bread edges gold for flair.
- Why It Works: Funny, cheap, and easy to build from things you have.
5. Pumpkin Patch
- Concept: Wear orange and decorate with fabric or denim patches.
- How to DIY: Cut patches from old jeans or fabric, pin or glue them to an orange shirt. Add leaf cutouts or a green headband to complete the pumpkin vibe.
- Why It Works: It’s family-friendly, festive, and totally customizable.
6. Error 404: Costume Not Found
- Concept: Minimalist and meta. A tech joke built into your outfit.
- How to DIY: Write “Error 404: Costume Not Found” on a plain white shirt with black marker or fabric paint.
- Why It Works: Effortless, funny, and great for last-minute plans.
7. Social Butterfly
- Concept: Attach social media logos to butterfly wings.
- How to DIY: Use cardboard or foam sheets to cut out wing shapes and logos. Attach the logos to the wings or costume front, then wear or hold the wings.
- Why It Works: Pun + recognizable imagery = social media-friendly fun.
8. Black Mail
- Concept: Wear all black and attach envelopes, stamps, and mail-themed props.
- How to DIY: Use black clothes, tape or glue fake mail pieces (use junk mail or printed ones) to your outfit. Add stamps, addresses, or fun return labels.
- Why It Works: Clever play on words; simple but memorable.
9. Red Whine / Red Wine
- Concept: Dress in red and carry a wine glass or a “Whine of the Night” sign.
- How to DIY: Full red outfit, hand-lettered sign or wine glass prop, maybe wear “tears” or a mock complaint poster.
- Why It Works: Witty, dramatic, and perfect for adult costume contexts.
10. Airhead
- Concept: A balloon floats above your head with you labeled the “Airhead.”
- How to DIY: Use helium or a light balloon tied to a headband or thin wire. Optionally, add cotton “clouds” around it.
- Why It Works: Simple, visual, and low effort.
Pop Culture-Inspired Costume Ideas
Timely, fun, and often easy to recognize, these ideas draw from shows, memes, and internet culture. They’ll help you nail that “I get it” moment.
11. Barbie (Any Version)
- Concept: All pink everything. Choose a theme like “Career Barbie” or “Weird Barbie.” Bonus if you carry a sign, e.g., “Hi, I’m Chef Barbie.”
- How to DIY: Gather pink clothes and accessories, create a laminated name tag or cardboard career sign.
- Why It Works: With the Barbie resurgence, this remains instantly familiar.
12. Taylor Swift – “The Life of a Showgirl”
- Concept: Sequins, fringe, and stage presence.
- How to DIY: Add rhinestones or fringe to a thrifted jacket or dress. Carry a faux mic or light-up ring.
- Why It Works: Customizable to your favorite “Era.”
13. Elphaba (from Wicked)
- Concept: Green makeup, black dress, witchy flair.
- How to DIY: Apply green face/hand paint, wear a black dress or cloak, carry a broom.
- Why It Works: With Wicked buzz, it’s a recognizable costume with theatrical flair.
14. The Sims Player / Sim
- Concept: Wear a green “Plumbob” above your head to look like you’re in-game.
- How to DIY: Cut a diamond shape from lightweight green foam or paper and attach to a headband or wire.
- Why It Works: Gamers and pop-culture fans appreciate this subtle but fun nod.
15. The Last of Us Duo
- Concept: Post-apocalyptic outfits similar to Joel and Ellie.
- How to DIY: Flannel shirts, distressed jeans, backpacks, toy weapons, and smudged makeup.
- Why It Works: The show is massively popular, so it’s easily recognized and fun for pairs.
16. Characters from Severance
- Concept: Corporate attire + ID badges + expressionless faces.
- How to DIY: Print “Macrodata Refinement Department”, wear office wear, muted expression or name tag.
- Why It Works: Eerie, stylish, topical. Embrace your “Innie” personality!
17. K-Pop Demon Hunter / K-Pop Mashups
- Concept: Combine flashy K-pop style with fantasy warrior elements.
- How to DIY: Use sequins, metallic fabrics, belts, toy swords, and bold makeup.
- Why It Works: Trendy, stylish, and unique for teens/adults. You could make it a group costume too!
18. Superhero Mashup / Crossover
- Concept: Combine two or more characters (e.g., Spider-Four, Iron Bat).
- How to DIY: Mix costume pieces from multiple hero outfits. Create hybrid logos on poster board or fabric.
- Why It Works: Fresh, creative, and ideal for sharing pictures online.
19. Streaming Buffering / Streaming Service
- Concept: Dress in black with a “Loading…75%” sign or logo of Netflix, Disney+, etc.
- How to DIY: Print or hand-paint the buffering wheel. Use cardboard or paper for streaming logos.
- Why It Works: Very relevant to 2025 media culture.
20. “Vibe Checker”
- Concept: Wear black and carry a clipboard labeled “Vibe Check.”
- How to DIY: Add a fake badge and ask party guests to “pass or fail.”
- Why It Works: Hilarious and original — very 2025 energy.
Family & Group Costume Ideas
Fun, coordinated ideas for parents and kids or groups.
21. Emoji Squad
- Concept: Each person dresses as a different emoji face.
- How to DIY: Cut emoji faces from cardboard or foam, paint expressions. Wear them as masks or signs.
- Why It Works: Fun, easy, and recognizable for all ages.
22. Streaming Service Family
- Concept: Each person wears a different streaming platform’s logo.
- How to DIY: Print or paint logos on T-shirts or poster boards and tape or sew them on.
- Why It Works: Great for groups, modern, and easily recognizable.
23. Bookworm & Book Fairy Duo
- Concept: One dresses in pages, the other in fairy wings or dust.
- How to DIY: Use old book pages (don‘t worry, we won’t tell!) to decorate clothes or wings; carry books as props.
- Why It Works: Literary, whimsical, and eco-friendly.
24. Gourmet Ghouls
- Concept: Each person represents a fancy food item (blueberry muffin, croissant ghost, or lemon meringue).
- How to DIY: Use felt, fabric, and cardboard to create food props and attach them to clothes.
- Why It Works: Deliciously creative twist on the classic food costume.
25. Critter Crew
- Concept: Butterflies, bees, ladybugs, or other insects.
- How to DIY: Use colored clothes, wings made of felt or poster board, antenna headbands.
- Why It Works: Adorable for families or classrooms.
26. Plant Parents / Garden Theme
- Concept: Everyone dresses as plants or gardeners.
- How to DIY: Dress in green clothes and decorate your outfit with leaves, fake flowers, and small pots as props.
- Why It Works: Cozy, funny, and great for group photos.
27. Bluey & Family
- Concept: Kids (or parents too) dress as Bluey, Bingo, Bandit, or Chilli.
- How to DIY: Use color-matching clothes and felt patches for ears, eyes, and paws.
- Why It Works: Beloved by children and adorable in family photos.
28. Nostalgic Throwbacks / 90s Icons
- Concept: Dress as ’90s pop icons, cartoons, or TV characters.
- How to DIY: Raid garages and parents’ closets for vintage tees, baggy jeans, scrunchies.
- Why It Works: Nostalgia never dies, plus it’s often free or cheap.
29. Minecraft Movie Characters
- Concept: Dress like the characters from the Minecraft movie, or you can even do the pixelated version.
- How to DIY: For example, dress up like Steve by cutting a large cardboard square for the head and paint Steve’s face. Wear a light-blue shirt and jeans. Add pixelated tools or pickaxe props from foam or cardboard.
- Why It Works: Minecraft is still huge, and it’s instantly recognizable, especially among kids and teens.
30. Farmers & Barnyard Buddies
- Concept: One person (or both parents) dresses as farmers while kids (or pets!) become barnyard animals like cows, pigs, or chickens.
- How to DIY:
- Farmers: Use flannel shirts, jeans, straw hats, and toy pitchforks. Add suspenders or an old bandana for an easy touch.
- Animals:
- Cow: White shirt with black felt patches and paper ears on a headband.
- Pig: Pink shirt, curled pipe-cleaner tail, and nose made from a painted egg carton cup.
- Chicken: White shirt, yellow leggings, and a feather boa around the neck.
- Bonus: Decorate a wagon or stroller as a barn or tractor!
- Why It Works: It’s adorable, creative, and fits Missouri’s rural roots perfectly. Plus, everyone can participate, even pets!
Tips to Make Your DIY Costume Stand Out
- Add a Backstory: Tell people why you chose it (a good pun deserves context!).
- Use What You Own: Before buying anything, check closets, garages, and craft bins.
- Shop Local: Missouri thrift stores are full of hidden gems for under $5.
- Pair Up: Many of these ideas work as duos: “Red Wine and White Wine,” “Black Mail and White Letter,” or “Bread Winner and Cereal Killer.”
- Think Reuse: Keep costume pieces to repurpose for next year’s theme or a school play.
More Ways to Save This Halloween
Even if you’re not feeling crafty, there are other ways to keep costs low:
- Host a costume swap with friends or neighbors.
- Reuse pieces from previous years and mix them up for a new twist.
- Save year-round for seasonal fun with a Super Savers Club Account.
- Track your spending easily with PSB Digital Banking Tools.
Save Big and Have Fun This Halloween
Whether you’re dressing up as a pun, a pop culture icon, or part of a family theme, these DIY costume ideas prove that creativity beats a big price tag every time.
At Peoples Savings Bank, we love helping you make the most of your money, whether that’s through budgeting tools, savings accounts, or just smart seasonal tips like this one.
Visit your local PSB branch or explore our savings options online to keep your finances just as polished as your Halloween look.