Even holidays that don’t require you to buy gifts for friends, family and people you may or may not keep in contact with for 11 months a year can be quite the costly ordeals. Consider Halloween for example, while candy still comes relatively cheap in bulk, costumes can cost big bucks, particularly if you have multiple children or are an image concerned social butterfly, refusing to be seen in the same attire two nights in a row. In either event, multiple costumes can be necessary in order to satisfy your demands, but with many outlets charging north of 50 for an outfit worth its weight (and still often not) strategic costume planning is suddenly essential to a successful and financially solvent celebration. Halloween’s not the only culprit either, costumed parties and events, particularly in college, are a dime a dozen. Here are a few hints to help get through the average dress-up day with as little hit on the wallet as possible.Re-use a costume Consider all the times over the next several years you might be able to use this costume if you do intend to purchase a pricier item. Dressing as another holiday’s mascot for Halloween will assure at least two wears, more than most. For example, if Santa Clause is your Halloween costume, it will only be 2 months before its once again a completely appropriate to don the big man suit. Not to mention, if you play your cards right and really pull off the look you could always help to pay for your holiday expenses by moonlighting at the local shopping mall. For those who don’t celebrate Christmas or celebrate it so strictly that Santa is just a misspelling of Satan, there’s always a Leprechaun costume, little fellows who hardly offend anyone. Come March 17th, roll it out again for St. Pat’s and be the hit of the bar. If two uses still isn’t enough to justify your buy, consider keeping it on-hand so you can pull a quick wardrobe change any time you see a rainbow.Dress like someone you know If you are good friends with someone who is notably quirky or eccentric, and this is also well known to those you will be around, simply dress like that person. Dressing like your boss can be a hit among coworkers, even if ultimately detrimental to your career. In any event, account for any distinguishing characteristics with a magic marker or cheap accessory, really anything that would show up in a police report (i.e. tattoos and piercings) and consider a wig with the appropriate hair color. Other than that, if you know this person well, you most likely have access to their closet. Simply “borrow” one of their more distinctly memorable outfits for the evening… In the market for a couples costume? Just dress your significant other as their significant other and tag along together.Homemade costumes Though homemade costumes put you in danger of looking a little miserly, particularly if you dress your kids in homemade costumes, for clever adults with a little creativity they can be the hit of a party. In this instance pay attention to the news, pop culture and current events as these are the most likely sources of inspiration capable of being reproduced with on-hand items. For example, when the SNL short “Dick in a Box” was released in 2006, many cleverly costumed men were on hand the next Halloween, needing only to loop a belt through a gift wrapped box to suddenly create a costume. Accent the box with a suit jacket like in the video, grow out your facial hair then throw on some sunglasses that look like you mugged R. Kelly and the entire costume is ready to go.