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Material Girl: Halloween Edition

If there is one thing that can be said about Halloween , it's that you're never too old to celebrate. Sure, trick-or-treating at age 30 without a child (of your own) to cart around may creep a few people out.

And while the trend in college may be to take a classic costume and, pardon my saying, tart it up a little (or a lot), that's no longer acceptable once you've graduated.

But in the spirit of all the parties your friends will no doubt be throwing, and to help out the local watering holes who will be hyping up the Halloween hoopla themselves, I've decided to get in the spirit of things myself with a special, Halloween edition of "Material Girl."

While it is of course fun and exciting to dress up for a night (or three since Halloween falls on a Friday this year), every Material Girl knows you shouldn't break the bank for "clothing" that you're only going to wear once … at least theoretically.

So ladies, we've not only come up with a few budget-friendly options to choose from this Halloween, but these are also costumes you'd be hard-pressed to find in any store. Meaning that you'll not only save on cash, but you won't be confronted with 10 other French maids at every party you attend.

Made of Money 

Speaking of maids, I'm sure this costume exists somewhere out there in retail-land, but for our purposes, we're going to pretend it doesn't.

First order of business -- purchase a French maid costume, like the one shown here from Party City for $14.99. The costume includes a dress, apron and head piece, leaving you enough room for creativity. Next, head over to the Casino section in Party City for alteration materials.

Grab a couple bags of $100 casino play money at $2.49 a bag. Make sure you have enough to cover the white "frill" on the skirt and top of the dress, as well as to make a duster. You'll also want to pick up one $3.99 bag of gold casino coins.

Next, head to your local craft store to purchase a dowel, a small, inexpensive wooden rod, or wooden paint brush for under $5. This will be used as the handle of your duster.

Staple, glue or (if you've really got the time and patience) sew the $100 bills into the white lace underneath the black dress of the maid costume. Do the same to the top of the dress, so that the dollar bills are hanging over the edge.

As for your duster, hold the dowel or paint brush upright and use a rubber band and/or glue as reinforcement to attach a wad of money that you are now "made of." The bills should fan out like "feathers" on a duster.

Cover the white apron of the maid costume in the gold casino coins using glue. Tape a coin to the toes of your shoes, as not to ruin them.

Optional: Attach the remaining $100 bills to the maid head piece, buy a garter belt ($3.99 at Party City) or use a piece of ribbon as a make-shift garter and attach any remaining cold coins to it. You can also purchase fishnet stockings ($4.99 at Party City).

Mail Order Bride

You've seen the Bride of Frankenstein and Zombie Bride, but never before have you seen a literal interpretation of the "Mail Order Bride." While building this costume may take some extra work and possibly some persuasion, it's well worth it.

First, you'll need to gather up as many discarded postage boxes, stamps and "mail-to" sheets as you can. Ask friends, check your own place and, if all else fails, that's where persuasion may help. Try heading to your local Post Office or mail carrier building to ask, beg and plead for boxes.

Next, it's time to construct a dress. I'm not saying it'll be easy, but it can be done.

Use scissors, tape and boxes as the outer-layer, and perhaps bubble wrap as an underlying petticoat. You may find it easier to make a "two-piece" dress, but most importantly, make sure you mark yourself with enough postage to make it all the way "home" to your new hubby.

Wrap a bouquet of flowers in bubble wrap for extra emphasis and don't forget an engagement ring like the one shown above which can be found at Party City for $1.99 in the Bachelorette Party section.

And what bride would be complete without her veil and tiara? This one was found also at Party City for $3.99.

Cereal Mom

Remember the crazy, psycho killer Kathleen Turner played in the 1994 dark-comedy "Serial Mom?" Well if you love the movie, play on words and appreciate all the guts and gore Halloween is supposed to be, then this is the costume for you.

You'll need to borrow, purchase or use a white shirt you already own and don't mind ruining for cheap. This can be a plain white T-shirt or, if you're looking to vamp it up a little, a simple tank top.

Next, head to your local grocery store to purchase the variety pack of mini cereal boxes for under $5. Not only does this make the costume, but you'll also have an excuse to eat all of that chocolate, marshmallow, non-fiber-filled kid cereals that you know you've been missing.

Empty the contents of each box and cut "slasher marks" into each with a knife. Pop open a few blood capsules (found at Party City for $1.99), and go crazy. Add blood to the shirt, the boxes and of course to the tip of your "weapon," a white plastic spoon.

Attach the cereal boxes to your shirt with tape or glue and spend the evening making people laugh at how clever and witty you are.

Eggs Over Easy

I'm proud to say I wore this one year in college and was praised for my wit. The simplest costume of the bunch, "Eggs Over Easy" will definitely be a hit.

The first part is simple, and it doesn't require you actually looking like that big of a floozy. Do what I did and dress all in black -- a black tank top, black skirt, black fishnets and black heels. You can get the fishnets for $4.99 at Party City.

Leave your outfit as is, or (and only if you're comfortable) glue or tape wrapped condoms to your shirt and skirt and to the toes of your shoes to serve as buckles. I also took this once step further and taped two to a pair of earrings.

Next, remove whatever fun, Halloween decorations come attached to the antennas of the headband you purchase (the one above is $6.99) and cut two pieces of egg carton to fit over the antennas in its place.

There you have eggs over easy … or maybe it's sleazy?

Miss Conception

This is for all you ladies with a closet full of old prom and bridesmaid dresses that you thought you'd never wear again.

Pick a dress that isn't skin tight, because as the play on words goes, you'll be shoving a pillow underneath to serve as a pregnant belly. Get it -- misconception!

Purchase some thick ribbon to use as a pageant sash and use permanent marker or paint to write "Miss Conception" across the front. And what beauty pageant queen would be complete without her tiara? Party City has the perfect one for $2.99.

Do you have a unique and budget-friendly costume idea for one of Richmond's many "Material Girls?" Leave your idea and instructions below!