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5 Cheap DIY Halloween Costumes

By WTOP Staff

The average person plans to spend about $77 on Halloween this year, and more than two-thirds plan to buy Halloween costumes, according to the National Retail Federation.

But have you seen the prices on some of those chintzy store-bought costumes? You could easily drop $50 to $70 on just one costume, blowing your budget for candy and costumes for the rest of your family members.

[Read: 7 Ways to Save Money on Halloween.]

Luckily, Halloween costumes don’t have to cost a fortune. Even if you’re not an expert sewer, you can easily come up with an affordable do-it-yourself costume. We’ll look at a few great DIY costume ideas for some of the most popular options this year. But first, here are some general tips for creating a cheap Halloween costume:

— Use real clothes. Most costumes, especially for kids, can be made with clothes that can later be worn everyday. Wal-Mart, Target and other big retailers have plenty of solid-colored shirts and tights. These are the perfect “base” for many costumes and can be worn again and again.

— Stick to your skill level. If you’ve never touched a sewing machine in your life, don’t pick out a Pinterest idea for a 100 percent homemade, elaborate “Frozen” Elsa or Ninja Turtle costume. That’s just a recipe for frustration — and wasted money and materials. Instead, find a pattern or tutorial that’s well within your skill level, and run with it.

— Purchase key accessories. If you really want an authentic look with your costume, you may budget to purchase a few key accessories that will really bring the look together. For instance, shop online for affordable Elsa accessories — like her tiara or gloves — to add the final touch to a DIY costume.

— Use cheap materials. Sure, you could create a dramatic Elsa cape out of $10 per yard white crepe de chine. But you could also make it out of $1.50 per yard tulle. Got a costume idea that involves cardboard? Don’t buy boxes! Scrounge them from new neighbors or your local grocery store, where they get rid of boxes daily.

— Look for sales. If you’re planning to use pricey fabrics or craft materials for your costume, look for sales and coupons. Most national craft store chains (Jo-Ann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, etc.) offer weekly coupons for 30 to 75 percent off one item and also run frequent sales with killer deals.

[Read: 7 Ways to Stretch Your Child’s Wardrobe From Summer to Fall.]

Now that you know how to generally save money on Halloween costumes, let’s look at some DIY ideas for some of the year’s most popular costume ideas. The top five kids’ costumes this year, according to the National Retail Federation, are princesses, animals, Spider-Man, “Frozen” characters and superheroes. Here are some cheap options for these costumes:

1. Princess

If you have basic sewing skills, a princess peasant dress in your girl’s favorite princess colors makes for an easy project. Made from sturdy cotton fabric with an easy-over neckline, this Halloween costume could become a favorite dress-up dress for several years.

Does your princess need more poof? You don’t have to drop $50 on a play dress with a crinoline. Instead, buy her a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of tights in her favorite color. Then, purchase some super-cheap tulle for a matching no-sew tutu. Add a homemade headband tiara and princess wand, and you’re good to go.

(Want to turn the princess into a fairy princess? Try some DIY fairy wings, or add a cheap store-bought pair.)

2. Animal

Again, animal costumes are ridiculously easy to make using real clothes. A black shirt and tights turns into a black cat costume, and a hoodie can easily morph into a dinosaur. You can start just about any animal costume based on real clothes, which can be worn again and again (and which you can buy for little-to-nothing at a big box store).

With some basic sewing skills and felt, you can make an animal tail to go with your costume. Add a felt mask (or make one from paper and glue if you’re slightly less crafty). Or, you could use face paint in place of a mask and felt ear headbands.

3. Spider-Man

Start this costume with long underwear or tights and a fitted top — red on top and blue on bottom. Use permanent markers or puff paints to paint on the Spider-Man logo. For a more crisp Spider-Man design, create a freezer paper stencil of the logo.

Since superheros obviously require masks, you could use face paint to put Spider-Man’s mask on your kid temporarily. Or for a reusable mask, use cheap and easy-to-sew felt.

4. “Frozen” Characters

We’ve already hinted about some cheap-to-make Elsa costume ideas. Good thing, since she’s going to be one of Halloween’s hottest characters. Luckily, you don’t have to go all-in on a $50 Elsa costume (which will probably fall apart in three days, anyway).

One option is to simply pair a light blue or white top with a simple blue DIY tutu. You could always glue some sequins onto the top, or create pretty snowflake designs with glittery puff paint. Add a no-sew cape with some bling, and you’re good to go.

Need costumes for the other “Frozen” characters? Anna’s costume can be similar to Elsa’s, with a T-shirt, tights and purple tutu. You could even add another version of Elsa’s cape to complete the look. You could also turn a white sweatshirt and hat into an Olaf costume. Just use felt or paint for the snowman’s buttons, eyes and carrot nose. Make a Kristoff costume out of a black or gray T-shirt, sweatpants and some fur fabric for trimming on his vest.

5. Superheroes

Again, superhero costumes — whether for a specific superhero or your kid’s made-up hero — can be really easy. Pick up a men’s T-shirt from the thrift store, and easily turn it into a custom superhero cape with felt or painted accents. Pair a cape with a long-sleeved shirt and tights or long underwear, and you’re good to go. Use felt or freezer paper to put the superhero’s logo on the chest of the shirt.

Want to add a little extra something to the superhero costume? Matching tutus add some glam for your favorite supergirl. And, of course, a felt superhero mask is a must-have for this costume. With some basic sewing skills, you can even make cheap shoe covers so your superhero is properly shod.

[Read: 8 Ways to Score Deals on Goodwill Half-Off Days.]

So how do you not spend too much money on Halloween? With some creativity and a little elbow grease! These ideas are just a start, and the Internet is full of great options for affordable (and often reusable) costumes for kids and adults alike.

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5 Cheap DIY Halloween Costumes originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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