My favorite, and probably cheapest, Halloween costume was from sophomore year of college. As broke college kids sans sewing machines, my roommate and I had to get creative with our costumes. We didn’t want to spend money on premade costumes (nor was that challenging enough for us) so we bought some black sheets, took scissors and staples to them, and…ta da…ninjas! We accessorized with some plastic weaponry found at Goodwill.

Now that we’re only a couple days out from Halloween, it’s costume crunch time. Follow the tips below to pull together a great costume without pulling apart your budget. (I promise not to tell you to staple it all together, though you totally could.)

7 Ways to Save Money On Your Halloween Costume

1. Have a few costume ideas in mind

Try to think of a few costume ideas before you get started. If you only have one, it can force you to overspend trying to get all the right pieces. Start your search with a few options so you can wait to make purchases when you know you have the best (cheapest) idea.

2. “Shop” at home first

Start your search at home. See what supplies you can round up without spending a penny. I save myself a step by storing all my random clothes, hats, and jewelry that are more costume-worthy than regular day-worthy in a Halloween box.

3. Host a costume swap

Chances are you already have great costume materials lying around but you don’t want to repeat the same costume from last year. If so, find a few friends willing to do a costume swap. You can trade full costumes or just pieces. It will be a fun challenge to see how you can take a previously worn costume to a new level!

4. Visit your local thrift shop

Make like Macklemore and visit Goodwill, The Salvation Army, and other thrift shops before paying full retail price.

5. Opt for a clever simple costume with just one or two details

 There are tons of simple yet clever costume ideas out there. Opt to be more clever than fancy and you can save a lot of money. Think of Jim in "The Office" as Facebook or Dave. Some ideas: Iron Chef (wear a chef’s hat or apron and carry an iron), Nudist on Strike (your regular self — in clothing — with a picket sign), Static Cling (stick some socks and underwear to your clothes), Ceiling Fan (a team sign or shirt that says “Go Ceiling!”), a Polaroid (cut out a white frame from foam board and write “Halloween 2013” in sharpie on it).

6. Make a paper mask

If you’re low on time and budget, find a life size photo, print it out, cut eye holes, attach a string, and voila.

7. Mustache on a stick

In the same vein, change your whole face in seconds with a fake mustache. Instructions via Martha Stewart.