Maybe you don’t have much money to spend on a Halloween costume for 2009.No matter, because you may have to look no further than your own closet to find the basics of a unique, original Halloween costume.

So how do you turn your old stuff into a great 2009 Halloween costume? Start by going through your closets and boxes of stored items. This should get your creative juices flowing. Try to think of costumes that can start with a base of ordinary clothing. The school teacher, the sunburned tourist, the bird watcher, the science geek with a pocket protector, all of these can be made from ordinary clothing you have in your closet right now.

You can also convert existing old clothes into other costume pieces. An old shirt can become a vest, sleeves can become sashes, an old skirt can become a cape. Do you need a bald head or to cover your hair, so you can wear a wig? That old pair of pantyhose with a run in them is perfect for this. While this may seem over done and boring, an old white sheet still has the makings of a great ghost. Just add your own accessories to update it and make it humorous. A ghost wearing an IPOD is humorous and original!

If you can’t find anything at your house, or you just need to add a few accessories, ask friends or relatives if they have old clothes that they would be willing to part with. Parents and grandparents can be great sources because they tend to hang on to their old stuff, and retro clothing, especially from certain time periods, can make great Halloween costumes. Dad’s old 60’s plaid golf shorts or white patent-leather dress shoes can be hilarious at a 2009 Halloween party. Think of the attention you’ll draw if you show up in a 70’s lime green leisure suit and a pair of platform shoes. If this isn’t an option for you, another source for old clothes is thrift stores. You can come up with a humorous, original costume at a very cheap price.

There are other advantages to making your own 2009 Halloween costume besides just the cost savings. First, you don’t have to worry about getting to the costume store or shopping online and finding costumes sold out, and you don’t have to stress out about whether your costume will arrive from the vendor in time for Halloween. You also won’t have to worry that someone else will show up at the party with the same costume you have. You will always be in an “original” and making it will be half the fun.