Frightfully Easy, Budget-Friendly Kids' Halloween Costumes

Halloween is just around the corner, and you know what that means: you'll need costumes for your kids. Halloween costume stores have some great costumes - but many also have frightful prices. If you're on a budget - or simply prefer to use your creativity - there are plenty of easy options for making a clever, low-budget Halloween costume for your child.

Bunch of Grapes This one is a classic! Have your child wear plain sweat pants and sweat shirt or a leotard and tights. Then just blow up purple or green balloons and stick them to the clothing with safety pins. Add a paper or cloth “stem” hat if desired. You can also use curled ribbon to make vine accents.

Sleep WalkerThis is an easy one. Have your child wear pajamas, slippers and a robe. Mess up his or her hair for a bed-head look, and have them collect candy in a pillowcase.

Dirty LaundryUse an old laundry basket, cut out the base, and then slip it over your child's head. Attach robe belts, scarves or rope to create suspenders to hold the basket in place. For the finishing touch, put some old clothing, empty laundry soap containers, dryer sheets and clothespins to create the “laundry.”

Route 66On a gray or black sweat suit, create a “road” with masking tape, then make road signs and attach them with tape or safety pins. Don't forget to make cars (or use small plastic ones) to add to the road!

Smarty PantsThis costume couldn't be easier! Start with a solid-colored sweat suit, then add rolls of Smarties candy to it with tape or safety pins, and viola! Instant “smarty pants.” Best of all, you can eat part of this costume once Halloween is over!

LegoIf your little one loves Legos, this easy costume will be a hit! Using a large cardboard box, cut openings for your child's head and arms. Spray paint the box your favorite Lego color and allow to dry. Then use six plastic bowls (all of the same size) and glue them to the front of the box in two rows of three. Once the glue is dry, spray paint the front once again, making sure to coat the plastic bowls. Have your child wear solid colored sweat pants and pull-over sweatshirt (ideally the same color as the Lego), and you're all set! If you really want to go all out, use a small box and string to create a hat, using the same process as for the body, but use only one plastic bowl on top of the hat.

Bag of LeavesThis costume is incredibly easy – and incredibly adorable! You'll need a large black trash bag, artificial (or real) leaves, and solid-colored clothing. First, cut holes in the bottom and sides of trash bag for your child's head and arms. Then tape or glue artificial or real leaves to the outside of the bag. You can also tuck some leaves into the neck hole of the trash bag, leaving some of them partially visible (artificial leaves work best for this). If you want to add more volume to the bag, stuff crumpled up newspaper inside (no one will see it), and then tape or glue the bag shut at the bottom (leaving an opening for your child's legs).

Jelly BeansBlow up some colorful balloons, but keep them small. These will be the jelly beans. Then, using a clear trash bag, cut holes into the bottom for your child's legs. Once your child steps into the bag, fill the are between their body and the bag with the jelly bean balloons. Using ribbon, create suspenders to keep the bag from falling. If you think it's necessary, attach a sign that says “Jelly Beans” to add to the front of the costume.

Chick MagnetThis is a fun costume for cute little boys! You'll need some baby chicks for this one (just paper ones!) and some plain clothing, such as a sweat suit. Simply attach paper chicks to the clothing with tape or safety pins, and consider adding a sign that says something like, “Yeah, I'm a chick magnet!”

Lame ExcuseThis costume is perfect for slightly older children. On different sticky notes, write several (lame) excuses such as 'My dog ate my homework', 'My alarm didn't go off', 'Cough-Cough...I think I'm getting sick'. Just be creative and come up with as many as you can. Put the sticky notes all over your shirt (you may have to use heavy tape, as well). In just a matter of minutes, your child can become a lame excuse!

With a little resourcefulness and creativity, you too, can create a low-budget Halloween costume that's unique and entirely memorable.