If you’re a little short on cash for a Halloween costume in 2009, you can still have a great time and be the talk of your Halloween party because there are many unique costume ideas that you can make for very little money.

Here are just a few ideas for guys. Remember Nick Nolte’s mug shot photo from a few years ago? Get yourself a cheap Hawaiian shirt, maybe even one from a thrift store. Put baby oil or gel in your hair and blow dry it with your head upside down so it stands up. Then, hang a sign around your neck that hangs down around chest level that says Nolte, Nick” with a case number. Here’s another easy one for guys, Remember Tom Cruise in Risky Business? Put on a pair of “tighty whities,” white tube socks, a white oxford shirt and dark sunglasses. Slide around on the floor a lot and you’ll have everyone talking for weeks. Here’s another one using the Hawaiian shirt. Dress up as the sunburned tourist. Get the shirt, bermuda shorts, dark socks with sandals, and a couple of cameras hanging around your neck. Then use pink makeup to give yourself a sunburn.

For the gals, here’s a few cute ideas. Ugly Betty is very popular and you can do this one easily. Try to find a long brown wig, or use your own hair if you have it, a long sleeve shirt, vest and a long skirt. Draw heavy eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil. Make or buy a pair of red glasses, and find a necklace that you can make and attach a large “B” to. Another cute one is the Kissing Booth. Construct a kissing booth with a couple of large cardboard boxes and use straps or tape to hold them in place around your body. Paint the boxes in white or red, and then print “Kissing Booth” and “Kisses $1” on the front. You can also do the Substitute Teacher. Wear conservative clothes, put your hair in a bun and hang a pair of glasses on a chain around your neck. Stick a paper airplane on the back of your hair, and a “Kick Me” sign on your back. Attach paper clips, staples or pieces of broken pencils to your clothes and put chalk on your hands and eraser prints on your clothes.

Here’s a couple of cute Halloween 2009 costumes that will work for either sex. You can be a Stick Man or Woman by wearing black clothing and attaching glow sticks to your arms, legs and torso in a line to make a glowing stick person. Another cute one is the Doormat. Dress in black clothes or wear a black sweatsuit. Use paint or white tape to spell “Welcome” across your chest. Take a shoe and put shoe prints on your clothes using real mud or brown paint. Attach a couple of rolled-up newspapers to your shoulders and a house key to your back.

Get together with friends and come up with some great 2009 Halloween costume ideas of your own. Half the fun will be making them!