Best Cheap Homemade Halloween Costumes Ever

Several years ago, I was a single mom with two young children, and not a lot of money to go around. My daughter was 10 years old and my son was three, and they both wanted to dress up for Halloween. I didn't have spare money for Halloween costumes. I decided I would find a way to make them homemade Halloween costumes from things I already had around the house, but wanted something other than a white sheet to make a ghost.

That year, I managed to make two of the best homemade Halloween costumes for both of my children, and I only spent $2.00 for supplies. In fact, I ended up making a profit. Let me describe the Halloween costumes first, and then I'll explain how I earned money from making these two homemade Halloween costumes!

Best Homemade Halloween Costume: Kitty Cat

My daughter's homemade Halloween costume was very simple, but it was the most expensive of both costumes I made for my children that year. I had to go to the dollar store and buy a pair of black tights for her, total cost: $1.50. We didn't care that dollar store tights are cheaply made, since she was only going to wear them for one night anyway.

Then I hit Goodwill and found a black fuzzy belt for all of .50 cents. Using her leotard that she wore for gymnastic that school year (it was black, but a black swim suit or body suit would work too), along with the black tights, I dressed her in black from head to toe. Then with a safety pin, I attached the fuzzy belt from Goodwill to her bottom, and presto - she was a kitty cat.

Using mama's mascara, eyeliner and lipstick, we gave her a nice reddish pink nose and painted on black whiskers, and she was the cutest little human kitty cat I'd ever seen, with her hair up in pigtails (or were they kitty cat tails?).

Best Homemade Halloween Costume: Hobo

I was a bit more creative with my son. I had no idea what to do with him for a Halloween costume, but knew that at three years old, I wasn't really wanting blood and gore or a scary Halloween costume.

We must have gone through his entire closet trying to figure out what to do for his Halloween costume before inspiration struck me.