10 last-minute, low-cost Halloween costumes

Will your kids be celebrating Halloween on 31 October? Like everything else American, I guess it was inevitable that the combination of costumes and lollies (or should I say “candy”) would eventually make it over here.

If you’re strapped for time like me, here are some budget-friendly last-minute Halloween costume ideas:

1. You can’t go past a zombie: A great way to repurpose an old t-shirt and pants.
2. Friendly ghost: All you need is an old sheet.
3. How about a Christmas present? Wrap a large box in Christmas paper and cut holes for the wearer’s arms and head. (Halloween costumes don’t have to be scary.)
4. Everybody loves a mummy: I mean the Egyptian variety that awakes from its tomb wrapped in toilet paper.
5. Old person: Little kids dressed up as old folks is always funny. Borrow one of Grandma’s frocks and apply powder for grey hair (no offence to Grandma).
6. Laundry basket: It may be a bit left-field, but I can see the horror in it. Cut a hole in the basket so it can be worn around the waist, then throw in some dirty socks and other washing.
7. Ninjas: Everybody has black in their wardrobe, right? Start with a black shirt and tracksuit pants, then make a black ninja eye mask out of old black socks.
8. Fortune-telling gypsy: You’ll need a scarf, long skirt and some/all of your mum’s costume jewellery.
9. Circus clown: All clowns are spooky (especially Ronald McDonald.) Take a plain tracksuit then tack on large colourful fabric dots. Clown wig and nose combos start at $4.59 on eBay.
10. Reuse an existing costume: Did your child dress up for Book Week? Do they already have costumes for dance or a dress-up box full of options? Problem solved right there.