Cheap Halloween Costumes Ideas: Stores And Websites To Buy A Costume For $20 Or Less

October is almost here and, for some early Halloween enthusiasts, the time is near to purchase or make a new costume.

Yet a holiday that requires a unique (or otherwise ridiculous) outfit means throwing down some cash -- whether it’s spending the money on a new costume altogether or buying the materials to make one.

Unless you’re opting to recycle a costume, there are options to ensure that your costume doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Outfits, props and accessories can be found at your corner drugstore, and even fabric stores have discount priced fabrics if you’re keen on designing your own creation.

Here's a list of stores and websites that will aid you in your hunt for a Halloween costume that will cost you $20 or less.

-Brick-And-Mortar Stores with Sales (like Spirit): You would think it would be a little on the early side for nation-wide store sales, but Spirit already has plenty of items and costumes at a reduced price. Some might still be on the pricier side, but complete costumes for both men and women are retailing between $10 and $20.

Costumes currently on sale for women include military costumes and mafia costumes, while guys can pick up a pop art character costume or a Duck Dynasty character outfit on the cheap.

-Craft Stores Or Fabric Stores (Like Michaels or Jo-Ann Fabrics): For those who were planning on trying their hand at an inventive DIY costume this year, a craft store like Michaels offers a huge variety of knick-knacks, fake flowers and art supplies. Sewing and fabric stores like Jo-Ann Fabrics also offer great deals on bolts of fabric and supplies.

Outfits like fairy nymphs, witches, ghosts or scarecrows could easily be re-created with supplies from the local craft supply or fabric store.

-Local Drugstores (like Duane Reade or Walgreens): You might think the pickings might be slim, but you can get quite creative with Halloween items you can buy at your corner drugstore. Some are better-stocked than others, but these are stores that are putting out Halloween items well before other stores. Many might just have quick and easy costumes for kids, but Halloween kits are always a mainstay at these stores. However, if you’re planning on putting together a costume using clothing you already own, the drugstores carry some of the best Halloween makeup – from eyelashes and glitter to an array of face paints and hair dyes.

-Thrift Stores: It’s all about borrowing from the past. Or buying it for a fraction of the price. A good thrift store will never let you down for a costume, especially if you’re aiming to dress as a decades character (a hippie from the ‘60s, or a '50s bobbysoxer). While some thrift stores can still be pricey (they don’t make hand-sewn, crystal-beaded flapper dresses like they used to), many thrift or secondhand shops offer a variety of glasses, t-shirts, dresses and jackets for a fraction of the price of a Halloween costume at full price. Also, you can be sure that no one else will have your costume or accessories.

-Halloween Store Sales Online (Like Halloween Express): Kids’ costumes and adult costume kits are already on sale on some sites. Pick up a Buzz Lightyear Jet Pack ($12.99) from Halloween Express or dress up as Minnie Mouse with a quick-and-easy kit. Props and accessories like Halloween eyelashes, gloves, swords, and yes, an Angry Birds mask, are all on sale currently.