Six cheap, easy costume ideas for Halloween

<p>An easy Halloween costume is to dress like Where's Waldo. Throw on a red and white sweater, a beanie and some glasses and you're all set. <em>Samantha Brammer // DN File</em></p>

An easy Halloween costume is to dress like Where's Waldo. Throw on a red and white sweater, a beanie and some glasses and you're all set. Samantha Brammer // DN File

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Costume ideas have crossed your mind all month, but now it’s just a few days before you need one, and you’re fresh out of ideas, resources and money.

If this sounds like you, here are six quick, cheap and easy costume ideas. Most of the necessary resources can be found at thrift stores, Goodwill or in your own closet.

1. Five-minute Harry Potter

For a quick saver, go for the boy who lived — and stole the costume competition. All you really need to make the costume are the lightning bolt scar, applied with a tube of lipstick, and the glasses, which are usually sold for cheap at a party or Halloween store like Party City.

With these two in place, a simple white button-down shirt with a tie (preferably scarlet and gold) and black leggings or pants completes the outfit.

Clean, simple and effective. Ties can be found at many thrift stores and/or Goodwill.

2. Where’s Waldo

Speaking of cool guys in glasses, Waldo is a classic character whose clothes are so normal they’re probably in your closet.

A red-and-white striped shirt is the most important, paired with glasses (real or fake), jeans and a red hat. Check out this visual on Pinterest for inspiration.

3. Your Favorite TV Character

Television offers so many easy costume possibilities — it’s too hard to pick just one. Crowd favorites include Kimmy Schmidt from “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” Ron Swanson from “Parks and Recreation” and Tina from “Bob’s Burgers.” Most can be made using clothes picked up from thrift stores or friends’ closets. Click on this TV character list from “Brit+Co” for even more costume ideas, or browse through your Netflix queue.

Kimmy Schmidt can be achieved with a floral top, cardigan, bright colored pants, tennis shoes and a backpack.

To get the Ron Swanson look, go for a sweater — there are no shortage at thrift shops. Underneath, wear a button up shirt with the collar sticking out. For pants, try khakis or dress pants and finish off the look with a fake, or real, mustache.

If you want to channel you inner awkward adolescent, wear a blue T-shirt, a dark skirt, tube socks and tennis shoes. Finish off the look with a pair of black glasses and a yellow barrette.

4. Favorite Athlete

While you may not win on originality for this one, you can at least support your home team. Use your own jersey or borrow a friend’s of your favorite professional player. Add some leggings or athletic pants, long socks and eye black (optional) to complete the outfit. Check out this Pinterest picture for a visual.

5. Historical Figures

Are you a secret history buff? Look to our national and global past for your quick costume. 

If own a tan bomber jacket, Amelia Earhart becomes pretty easy — just add flying goggles. Or, throw on your best business attire with a top hat and you’ve got Honest Abe Lincoln. 

Another option is to throw on a white bed sheet and be Julius Caesar, or a greek god or goddess of your choosing. Just add sandals and a headpiece, which can be found at Party City or on Etsy.  

Rosie the Riveter is also a popular, and easy, costume to put together last-minute. All you need is a red bandana and a denim shirt.

6. The Sign Costume

We’ve all seen it: the classic sign costume. This just requires a simple neutral outfit (usually black clothing) and a poster on string that represents an inanimate object. While it doesn’t take much effort, what you choose to put on your sign can say a lot about you; your sign can be anything from Snapchat to your favorite amendment.

These are just some of many last-minute costumes out there. If nothing here caught your fancy, use Pinterest and other idea-gathering websites to find the perfect one for you and your time and budget constraints. Happy costuming!

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